I have been quietly busy, reading Scripture, sewing, listening to the Spirit of God, interceding, working on relationships and I even did a tax return.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

I have seen, with my spiritual eyes, and heard, with my spiritual ears, quite a bit. How people give is one of the things I see.

Deuteronomy 29:4 (KJV)
Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

One of the things that disturb me is how people don’t give. I do not believe in “tithing”, giving ten percent to avoid being cursed; I am not cursed. I do give and I make sure my family does not have anything that I am able to give. How can I give to a church leaders anniversary if I have a relative or friend who is in need? For a blessing from God?

Mark 7:5-13 (KJV)
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Two things Yeshua, Jesus pointed out: traditions of the elders, men and not giving to the temple (church) while neglecting parents. Jesus stated it was “your own tradition”. Yeshua states these Pharisees nullified, made the word of God of ineffective, through their man made traditions- church doctrine.

I am not cursed, in fact I am very blessed. I am blessed because I pray about my giving. The Holy Spirit tells me where to give and how much. I am blessed because I am able to bless others family and friends. I am blessed because I do not expect YHWH, God, to give me stuff in exchange.
It bothers me that young kids in my neighborhood go from door to door for odd jobs and no one can find anything for them to do, yet people are surprised when they turn to a life of crime. God has blessed me with the funds to give these young people something to do at least 3 times a month.
I am blessed to give away free Bibles. This is my desire. I purchased 4 Bibles from the dollar store and after looking at them I decided to upgrade. I purchased 4 pocket New Testaments but I decided that I wanted to give away the entire Bible. My giving away Bibles is not tax deductible, the last 3 I gave away were to individuals who are a member of a church that did not give them one- that bothers me!
I have given people rides to and from church, a few times with barely enough gas to get myself to church. God has provided. These people did not live near me and there were people who did. Only God knew the sacrifice I was making to do this.
“…and such like things ye do.” It bothers me that people condemn me for saying “I don’t believe in tithing” and they can’t even help their family. How do they justify, giving church leaders, contributing to a building fund or even giving money to a “guest speaker” when their own family, not just their parents are in need? Do they know what the people they are giving money to are actually doing with those funds? Such givers are “making the word of God of none effect and should not expect a blessing.

Now, some will say that they are blessed because of all the stuff they have, even though they cannot afford to lose their job because of all the debt they have. Giving is a biblical principle thus even sinners are blessed when they give. I am blessed because of all the people I am able to be a blessing to.

Luke 6:34-38 (KJV)
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Written by Marsha L Floyd
October 8, 2023