I’ve read the story of the Rich Young Ruler from Matthew 19:16 – 26 several times and lazily glossed over what Jesus asked the young man to do then quietly judged the ruler for not doing it.
But the truth is, I might have responded the same way the young ruler did. If I had been following God’s commandments since my youth and lived a wealthy life, I too would think I was good to go. Heaven, here I come! Right?
Jesus’ instructions to “sell your possessions and give to the poor,” exposed the young man’s true heart. The ruler was not as blameless as he proposed in following the Ten Commandments, because he loved himself and his possessions more than his neighbors. He wasn’t willing to exercise his faith and give God first place in his life.
The love of money (cue Bone Thugs -n-Harmony) had my man caught up.
His reluctance to give reminded me of the beginning of my tithing journey as a young adult. I was raised to understand and pay tithes, so giving God His ten percent of my money was very much a part of my upbringing. But it wasn’t just some tradition in my family. It was biblical. From Abraham (Genesis 14:20) to Moses (Leviticus 27:30-34) to Jesus sharing about the poor widow who gave her two coins (Mark 12:42-44) and all the verses in between, I knew tithing was honorable to God. Giving tithes and offerings in church on Sundays was a normal part of the Sunday service. (It was also a mini fashion show but that’s a story for another day.)
Tithing made all the sense in the world until I became a young adult, fresh out of college, living in California with a paltry income while my parents paid my rent because I couldn’t afford to do so. My measly paycheck barely handled my car expenses, utilities, and student loan payments. Paying ten percent when I couldn’t afford to pay my own rent just didn’t seem possible.
Needless to say, I didn’t pay my tithes right away. I tried to justify my disobedience by saying I needed to cover my other expenses. Plus, I wasn’t truly devoted to a church so who was I going to give it to?
I collected a few paychecks, had a coin or two in the bank, and lived what I foolishly thought was my best, broke life. Happy Hours, watered-down drinks, and growing credit card bills were my mode of operation.
However, not giving God what was rightfully His didn’t sit right with me. I knew better but the idea of giving what I seemingly thought I didn’t have was a constant fight against my flesh. I knew the whole paycheck was His and all He was asking for was ten percent, but my mind tried to reason the sacrifice away. Ten percent felt much larger at the time. Yet I couldn’t deny what I knew to be true. God is a multiplier. He would not have me pay tithes and then leave me broke. That was not the faith I witnessed. I never saw my parents go without even as they raised three kids off one income.
I also read about how Hannah, in her barrenness, promised God her first son, Samuel, and went on to have multiple kids after she gave Him her first. I knew about how the poor widow from Zarephath who thought she was one meal away from death made some bread cake for Elijah first as an act of obedience and faith. She was then able to feed herself and her son until the end of the drought.
There was something to be said for giving God your first and best.
Eventually, I started paying my tithes. It was a sacrifice, but considering I wasn’t always spending my money on the best things, it was a step in the right direction for becoming a better steward of my resources. I did it with a cheerful heart and a willing attitude.
God honors sacrifice. He loves a cheerful giver. When giving unto Him as an act of worship, He receives our worship.
God soon blessed me with a new job and gave me clearer guidance on how He wanted me to give. When I adopted a giving mindset, I saw a significant shift in my financial provision. God continued to propel my career and the income that came with it.
I wonder what blessings the young rich ruler missed out on because he was too busy holding tightly to what he had. God wants us to come to Him with an open hand, offering all that we have to Him, and acknowledging that it is all His in the first place. When we give it back, He blesses it beyond our wildest imaginations. It could show up in mere material things, but I believe He gives us abundant prosperity in health, wisdom, grace, love, and more.
I implore you to consider what areas in your life resemble the rich, young ruler. Where can you give God what’s His and let Him be Lord over everything in your life?
