What's 100 minus 10 (100-10)? Most of us will say 90 as the answer.
It's not necessarily 90. Then what's the answer? "It can be 170 also," says Rev Fr Kurian Karickal, a Christian charismatic preacher who's active in several countries.
How can it be 170? "Suppose you have 100 dollars with you and give away 10 dollars as tithe to the poor or church. Then you will be left with 90 dollars. There's a promise from God. If you give away something to God, He will repay it by seven times. This means 10 dollars will become 70 dollars eventually. You will get seven times more of what had given away as tithe," says Rev Fr Karickal, who was the Director of Charis Bhavan retreat centre, Kerala, India. I happened to hear Rev Fr Karickal's arithmetic on a Christian television channel recently.
It's true. If you believe in Scriptures, it will happen. The Word of God can't go wrong. "Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford. For the Lord is the one who repays, and He will repay you seven-fold," says Sirach 35:12-13.
Tithing is part of Christian life. I always try to remind myself about this. But something in our mind always try to block it. Doubts always linger. Why should I give away money to somebody free? Does it make sense?
We must remember that Bible gives clear answers and explanations about tithing. It talks about different aspects of tithing. Bible also explains what happens if you tithe sparingly or don't do it at all. "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver," says Corinthians 9:6-7.
Yes. "God loves a cheerful giver." It's from God. If you give away the entire 100 dollars, you will get back 700 dollars.
That's not the end of it. God says you can test me on this.
Look at Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
Do you want to test God on this? Try.
But be careful. Bible says, "Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice." Sirach 35: 14-15
Why should we part with our wealth in this manner? Please remember that a huge number of people in this world are struggling to have one square meal a day. This is a land of starving millions. Your conscience must prick you when you sleep on so much wealth. Share it with others. You won't become poor. God's assurance is there. On the contrary, you will be repaid seven-fold.
It's not necessarily 90. Then what's the answer? "It can be 170 also," says Rev Fr Kurian Karickal, a Christian charismatic preacher who's active in several countries.
How can it be 170? "Suppose you have 100 dollars with you and give away 10 dollars as tithe to the poor or church. Then you will be left with 90 dollars. There's a promise from God. If you give away something to God, He will repay it by seven times. This means 10 dollars will become 70 dollars eventually. You will get seven times more of what had given away as tithe," says Rev Fr Karickal, who was the Director of Charis Bhavan retreat centre, Kerala, India. I happened to hear Rev Fr Karickal's arithmetic on a Christian television channel recently.
It's true. If you believe in Scriptures, it will happen. The Word of God can't go wrong. "Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford. For the Lord is the one who repays, and He will repay you seven-fold," says Sirach 35:12-13.
Tithing is part of Christian life. I always try to remind myself about this. But something in our mind always try to block it. Doubts always linger. Why should I give away money to somebody free? Does it make sense?
We must remember that Bible gives clear answers and explanations about tithing. It talks about different aspects of tithing. Bible also explains what happens if you tithe sparingly or don't do it at all. "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver," says Corinthians 9:6-7.
Yes. "God loves a cheerful giver." It's from God. If you give away the entire 100 dollars, you will get back 700 dollars.
That's not the end of it. God says you can test me on this.
Look at Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
Do you want to test God on this? Try.
But be careful. Bible says, "Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice." Sirach 35: 14-15
Why should we part with our wealth in this manner? Please remember that a huge number of people in this world are struggling to have one square meal a day. This is a land of starving millions. Your conscience must prick you when you sleep on so much wealth. Share it with others. You won't become poor. God's assurance is there. On the contrary, you will be repaid seven-fold.
