How come things have been going wrong ever since we started paying our tithing again?

Question

Gramps,

My wife and I stopped paying our tithing for about two years. We were not inactive, we just didn’t pay it. We knew we needed to and so 3 months we began paying it and have been very faithful in paying it since. But ever since we started paying it, things are going wrong. We seem to be in financial ruin and there is a lot of stress with other things now. Why is it that before we paid out tithing, things seemed easier. Now that we are, nothing seems to be going right. We are not receiving answers to our prayers and we don’t feel we are receiving the blessings we need.

Tyler

Answer

Dear Tyler,

Perhaps the difficulties that you are now going through are the specific blessings that you now need. Do you think that those who obey the Lord’s commandments spend the rest of their lives on a soft feather bed? The very purpose of this life is to overcome difficulties. How could faith ever be developed if there were no need to trust in the Lord because there were no opposition to righteousness? The Lord said—

For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.

 

And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.

 

Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.

 

For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me (D&C 98:12-15).

You have applied a very short term measuring stick to the promise of blessings for obedience to principle. You didn’t pay tithing for two years, and now you have paid it for about three months, and you believe that you should be sitting on a cloud. Be faithful in obedience to the Lord’s commands. What did the Lord say to Cain?

If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door (Moses 5:23).

The Lord is talking about being accepted into His kingdom for obedience to commandment or to have sin lie at the door (perhaps dressed in the luxuries of life) for disobedience. Pay your tithing and take your lumps!

Gramps