Tithing -- A Way of Life

 by Ann McGill - MidWife of Consciousness
 

Tithing is a spiritual principle to which many aspire, few achieve and hardly anyone fully understands. While many know it to mean the giving of 10% of one’s annual income to a church or charity, few are aware of the deeper implications of such donations.

To tithe is to share our resources in a way that expresses heart-felt gratitude to those who have contributed their gifts for our benefit and pleasure, be it personally or by serving the world.

In other words, the more we benefit, the more those who contribute to us deserve to be comparably rewarded. If we support those who serve us, they are better able to continue serving us and the world still further. By funding good works, tithing becomes a powerfully effective process for co-creating a better world.
 

Tithing is more than just a feel-good idea. The reasons to tithe, the personal benefits of tithing, are based on current scientific knowledge as well as religious teachings and ancient philosophical insights.

Metaphysics says:

Like attracts like.

Religious teaching tells us:

The more we give, the more we receive.

Spiritual principles talk about how:

Giving creates a vacuum, a powerful attracting force, waiting – wanting to be filled.

Systems theory tells us:

What affects a part affects the whole.

Holistic thinking leads us to conclude:

Whatever affects us, affects those around us, and thus the world in which we live.

All these declarations are simply other ways of stating the Universal Principle:

We are One. We can only give to ourselves.

What’s most important to realize is giving comes first. Giving precedes receiving. Waiting until we have more, something extra to share, is not the way Life works.

Give a person a big, warm, welcoming smile and most will smile back. Wait for others to smile first, and far less cheer will come your way.

Giving creates a void, a vacuum, that attracts what will nourish, restore and reward. A Tithe, a gift of love freely given without expectation of return, acts like a powerful magnet. The greater the magnitude of a free-will love offering, the more powerful the attracting force created.

This is Universal Law. This is how energy works.

The more we give, the more we get, the more we have to give again.

And...

The more we help create a better world, the more we benefit from the better world in which we now live.

As saints and sages have known for thousands of years:

Everything we give is always a gift to ourselves.

Thus...

It makes sense to share more instead of less. It makes sense to make tithing a way of life.

Unfortunately, a surprising number of people find it difficult to be generous. Studies show that the higher one’s income, the less of a percentage that person gives.

A commitment to tithe demands major shifts in how we think and act. It takes time to change our attitudes and release the fears that hold us back. Remember, progress is faster and easier when we applaud and celebrate each new step we take.

Generosity is determined by our willingness to share what we have. It is our intent, not the gift itself, that speaks our gratefulness. You alone determine if a tithe is deserved and what it should be.

It helps to realize that our resources are not limited to money or material things. We can give our time, share our skills, lend an ear, help with tasks, pass on compliments, express love. Simply let your imagination suggest what’s appropriate.
 

As you explore making Tithing a way of life, be aware that your ability to receive is equally important. Tithing is a reciprocal process. In order for the process to complete itself, you must accept a gift in return for your tithe. To better understand the promise “As you give, so shall you receive,” keep these basic principles in mind:
 

 The return gift may not happen right away.
          It happens when the time is right.

     It isn’t necessarily a direct reciprocal relationship.
          It often comes from unexpected sources.

     You may not recognize the gift for what it is.
          It will be just what you need.

     It won’t happen if you aren’t willing to receive.
          Acceptance is an essential part of giving.

 

A final important thought. Wanting to be fair, most of us try to determine the monetary value of the gifts we receive. Seldom are such estimates accurate.

How much we tithe should be based on how much we benefited from the gift, nothing else.

Sometimes it’s not until after the fact that we realize just how much or how well we have been served.

It’s never too late to make up for what we didn’t – or couldn’t – give earlier.

Bless you for all you share. May your heartfelt generosity
be quickly replenished and multiply.
 

Copyright © 1997 & 2008 Ann McGill – Midwife of Consciousness
MidWife@AnnMcGill.com - www.AnnMcGill.com
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