Let's start off our blogs talking about Tithing. From what I can gather most people don't view tithing as a mandatory thing to do, but as a nice thing to do - when you have excess. Now I have not done any formal research on this - but just from conversations over the years with colleagues, friends, family, etc.

Tithing in Scripture is not an option. Read Malachi 3:8-12 where God talks about robbing Him. It is pretty vivid that He takes tithing seriously and that we should as well for our own blessing. All God asks of us is to give Him the "first fruits" of 10% back to Him.

We had a guest Pastor at our church one time who preached on this passage and used a object lesson to show us how little God is asking of us. He had some fruit that he laid out - oranges, apples, bananas, etc. So he had 10 oranges and 10% of that is one orange. So he put one orange on one table and left 9 on the other. The table of one was God's portion and the table of 9 was ours. Once he got through all the fruit - our table was overflowing! It is amazing that God is asking the 10% as a faith/obedience walk that we are trusting Him as our one and only support and not that we are relying on our family, friends, boss to be our source.

So the next question I usually get is what should I tithe off of - the gross or the net? Well, I tend to tithe off the gross because in my own way I am showing God how grateful I am for what He has provided. But really this is a personal question that you must seek God's direction on for your personal life. For example, I know of some business colleagues who tithe off of net of their business income (income - expenses) because in essence that is their gross. They have received peace from God that He has accepted this so you too should seek God's peace on what amount you tithe off of.

Remember we are stewards of what God has provided to us. If we practice good stewardship - God will bless us greatly. However, if we do not, he will let our own methods of what we do outside of Him to pretty much blow up in our faces.

You may be getting ready to start your first job, have a job or let's say you are not of the age to get a job, but you do the occasionally babysitting job, lawn mowing job, or just chores around the house. Begin your practice of tithing to Him right now! Take the amount you get and be faithful and tithe. Start the habit now of thanking and honoring God by giving Him 10% of what you receive in wages.

You won't go wrong in trusting Him and tithing on your income - you will be amazed how well you will blessed by this simple act of faith.