I have given a lot of thought to tithing lately.  Tithing has been around for several thousands of years, but what is included in a tithe?  I know that it is commonly thought that a tithe would be ten percent of your income, but what if we took that to a higher level.  Not necessarily out of a demand, but as an offering to God.

What if instead of taking ten percent of our income, What if we took ten percent of that and added ten percent of everything else in life.  What can we divide and dedicate ten percent of?  I know of several things, but I do not have the time to make an exhaustive list.  These are a few examples that I know of in my life.

1. Telephone Calls – I work in a full time position, which means a 40 hour week.  Out of the 40 hours, I probably spend about 30 hours talking on the phone.  If I took the time I spend on the phone at work and take ten percent of it, I should be spending 3 hours a week talking on the phone, dedicating it to God.  How do you dedicate a phone call to God?  Romans 10:14 asks how someone can believe if they have not heard the message.  I could spend 3 hours a week telling those that you talk to about the wonderful plan God has for their lives.  Think of those pesky telemarketers that want to keep you on the phone for 30 minutes until you decide to buy their product.  What if you spend those 30 minutes re-directing the call to the love of God?

2. Grocery shopping – If I spend on average $100 a week, wouldn’t the thought of tithing say that I should give $10 to God?  Proverbs 19:17 states that if you are kind to the poor that it would be considered as you lending to God.  If you took and spent $10 extra to give to the poor, you would in turn be lending it to God, would you not?

3. Driving – I drive 30 miles to work one way five days out of the week.  That means that 30 miles would be the amount that I could tithe in my driving.  Psalms 68:5 says that God is a defender of widows.  There are several elderly ladies that need a ride to doctor’s offices and grocery stores.  I would not suggest breaking any laws by picking up hitch hikers, but there are a lot of people that could use a ride.

There are several ways that we can give God 10 percent, but those are just three that I have thought of recently.  God bless!