Question
Gramps,
I am a new member of the LDS church. My husband is not a member at this time. I have told him about tithing 10%. But because we are struggling to make ends meet he says I can give some money. I am not able to work and receive no income myself. The missionaries that have been teaching me made me feel bad about this. I have faith in my heart but my husband has very little at this time. I’m afraid that if he knows I’m upset by what they have said it will make it harder for me to help to lead him back to the Lord. I will try to meet up with my bishop. But I start crying when it comes to talking about money. I will take any advise please. Thanks.
Gloria
Answer
Gloria,
I mentioned your question to a good friend when I read it, and he offered the following story from his own life. I want to share it with you before I answer your question myself.
“There was a time when my wife was trying to find a job. We were barely getting by on my income, but no jobs were coming up for her. She was a new member at the time and hadn’t had much experience with paying tithing. The time came for me to pay it and she was unsure that I should. I told her of my testimony of tithing and she was willing to see what happened.
The very next day after I paid tithing, my manager asked if my wife had put in an application. I told her that she had, and she then said to have her come in the next day for an interview. My wife was hired after a three-minute interview.”
Gloria, there are a lot of things we are asked to do as followers of Christ. For each of us, any one of them can be a challenge to follow. For some people, the Word of Wisdom is a serious stumbling block. For others it’s gossiping and backbiting. On and on it goes. It’s very common for tithing to present a challenge to our lives and our faith.
I can assure you the Lord keeps His promises. Let’s look in the Old Testament where God gives us a serious promise regarding the paying of tithing.
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
In these verses, the Lord is all but daring us to try and prove Him wrong. Whenever we are obedient to the commandments God has given us, we receive blessings in return. We may not know what form those blessings will take, but we have God’s promise that they will come every time.
Take comfort in knowing that God knows you both, loves you both, and wants to help you in any way He can. He knows the intent of your heart. Maybe you can’t pay a full ten percent. Pay what you can. Work up to full obedience. There will always be a way to obey the commandments of God, and the blessings will always be there for you when you need them.
Gramps
