RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BORROWER
Have you ever loaned someone money? How did that work out for you? Let me tell you a story about some people to whom I have loaned money:
One of them, we can call him Edgar, does not live on a budget. I have tried to encourage him to make a budget to see where he is, financially, and to see what he can do to live on his income. Well, he keeps having "emergencies" and borrowing money. One time it was his utilities that he didn't have the money for. We covered that for him and he was going to return our money with his next paycheck.....or two. Months went by. His wife texted me at one point to ask if they had ever settled that debt. I said, "no", and she said they would get it back to me with their next check.
Then their truck broke down. Edgar phoned to ask for more money. I consulted my partner and reminded her that he hadn't paid back the first loan. We had the money (we live on a budget), so we bailed him out. I ended up having to call him up and remind him that he owed us money.
The emotions that I experienced run the gamut: expectancy, disappointment, anger, disgust, rejection. Even when he received a windfall (money he received that he did not earn), he only paid back a small portion of the money that he asked for. When he asked for it, it was critical. When he had to pay it back, it was not important at all.
There is another person, we will call him Ralph. He was in the county jail. O.K., that should have told me all I needed to know. But he was having to walk around in raw sewage and was fed moldy food with bugs in it. He pleaded with me to post bond. His immediate family wouldn't. I don't know if that was due to of lack of funds or if it was that they were smarter than I. Anyway, when I went to pay his bond, I didn't have the amount they required. I ended up making payments on this money so he could enjoy a bit of freedom. The money was important to him when he was incarcerated, but not when he was released from prison and employed. I have to keep reminding him that he needs to return my money.
Then there is George, a friend of my family member. I had been gifting him a little money over the past year. He was down on his luck. Then, one day, he was telling me another sad story and I listened and would ask him what he was doing to come up with the funds to better himself. He wouldn't answer my question, but would repeat that he needed a little money. Finally, he asked if he could borrow the money from me. I'm a sucker. I sent him the money, with the understanding that he would pay it back with his next pay check. I am still waiting on the first dime.
Thank you for allowing me to verbalize my feelings. You see, I got my own self in this situation. I know better than loaning money. But wait! I want to tell you about Someone Who has given you and me something that is priceless. It is way better than cash; it is eternal life! Now, how does being saved tie into borrowing money that I don't pay back?
We (Believers) are expected to give back to God ten percent of our income. He has given us a mind and healthy bodies that we use to work. All He expects is 10% of our "substance and our increase" (wages and income from other sources). Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3: 9,10 (KJV) He could have asked for so much more (like the government does), but He is not greedy. He wants to be appreciated. He wants us to tithe with a cheerful heart. He wants His first and He will bless our obedience. But what do we do?
Much like the examples I gave of those who owe me, we steal from God! Yes, the money that they are slow in returning to me is money they are stealing from me because they have each had the extra cash to pay it back.
We do the same thing to God:
"...Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me."
"But you ask, 'How do we rob You?'
"In tithes and offerings. YOU ARE UNDER A CURSE--THE WHOLE NATION OF YOU--because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast (throw off or lose) their fruit," says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3: 7b-12 (NIV)
God has a way of taking that which is His. Consider that Israel was captured simply because they disobeyed God related to resting the land (when growing their crops). They were in bondage for 70 years, or for as long as they were to rest the land. You can read the account of this story here: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2012/02/god-balances-books-daniel-11-5.html I don't know about you, but I would rather take a blessing any day instead of God's anger. I have found His blessings are abundant when I obey Him.
What about you? Are you robbing God? Were you aware that when you don't tithe, that is exactly what you are doing? So, what is the answer? 1) Ask His forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive you. 2) Start tithing. We have written several posts and a "page" about tithing. Use the search bar to research further.
What if you aren't a Christian? We have the answer for that, too! haha. Click here to discover the freedom and security of giving your heart to Jesus: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html
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