RELIGION: Some thoughts on tithing

Leighton Farrell was the minister of Highland Park Church in Dallas for many years. He tells of a man in the church who once made a covenant with his pastor to tithe 10 percent of their income every year. They were both young and neither of them had much money.

But things changed. The layman tithed one thousand dollars the year he earned 10 thousand, 10 thousand dollars the year he earned 100 thousand, and 100 thousand dollars the year he earned one million. But the year he earned six million dollars he just could not bring himself to write out that check for six-hundred thousand dollars to the church.

He telephoned the minister, long since having moved to another church, and asked to see him. Walking into the pastor's office, the man begged to be let out of the covenant, saying, "This tithing business has to stop. It was fine when my tithe was one thousand dollars, but I just cannot afford six-hundred thousand dollars. You've got to do something, Reverend!"

The pastor knelt on the floor and prayed silently for a long time.

Eventually, the man said, "What are you doing? Are you praying that God will let me out of the covenant to tithe?"

"No," said the minister. "I am praying for God to reduce your income back to the level where one thousand dollars will be your tithe!"

Just something to think about.

Peace,

Skip

Pastor James "Skip" French is the pastor of Highland Christian Church, 1500 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista. Opinions expressed are those of the author.