Joyful Giving

I am sure most of us have heard the parable about the woman who gave all she had to the Lord and how He said she gave more than all the others (Mark 12:41-44). I think most of us know that we are supposed to tithe to the Lord 10% of our wages. I have heard some get technical about 10% of what? Wages pre-taxes or wages that you take home? My opinion would be pre-taxes because the Lord wants the first 10% of your wages -- I would imagine this to mean even before the govenrment gets their share...

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 states that God loves a cheerful giver... okay, I have to admit, I am not one to be happy about "giving" my money away, so how do we go about being cheerful in our giving? I think the most important step is to pray for God to work in your heart so that you can be cheerful in your giving to Him. Then of course we have to allow Him to work in us. Simply praying will not do anything if we do not allow Him to mold us into what He wants us to be.

Does giving to Him mean just at church? I don't think so. I probably haven't given to a church in almost a year because I have been looking for a "home" church. I have given to some local Christian charities as well as saving up some of my tithe to give to a church when I do find one to attend.

I have heard a tithe be called an offering quite a bit and an interesting point was brought up in church last evening. The tithe is the 10% of our wages that most of us give, an offering is anything over that 10% that we give. Are we really making an offering then or are we simply tithing?

Blessings in Christ,