“More Than Just Money,” New Era, September 2015, 32–35
For the Strength of Youth
More Than Just Money
Alex Masterson lives in Utah, USA.
The windows of heaven don’t just pour out coins.
Who knew the law of tithing came with such awesome blessings? Seriously, have you read Malachi 3:10–11 lately? In not so many words, you’re promised extra-strength repellent against the “devourer” (who just cannot be good for your social circle) and also access to so many blessings that you somehow won’t have room for them all. Yeah, that’s all in there.
But when we read about these fantastic blessings, we sometimes assume they’ll look something like this: $$$. And sometimes they will, but if we look only for the tangible blessings of tithing, then we can forget that these anti-devourer, super blessings can come in spiritual ways, too. Here are three amazing blessings from above you can look forward to as you pay your tithing.
Eternal Perspective
Yes, money can be awesome. It’s hard to see it as anything else, especially when it can get you things like food, music, clothes, and a college education. But just as money can be used for good, it also has a way of fueling the natural man. Before you even realize it, even a little bit of money can bring out a kind of selfishness and greed that creates the illusion that you’re not only happier and more important but also more free.
By paying your tithing, you’ll be blessed with a refreshing eternal perspective that will help you see money for what it really is: temporary. You’ll see that money can only buy you things that never last, and you’ll realize that once you leave this world behind, it will not stand by you and defend you at the last day (see Mosiah 4:23).
As you give away that tithing money willingly, it’ll be easier to notice the things in life that actually can stand strong forever and hold you up when you need them most, like family ties and the promises you make with God. Plus, it’s a reminder that everything you have truly belongs to God. You’re not really paying your own 10 percent so much as He’s letting you decide what to do with His other 90 percent. As your eternal perspective becomes clearer and you reprioritize your life, you’ll be blessed with the strength to overcome the natural man, and you’ll feel the lasting happiness that comes along with it.
So the next time you pay your tithing, just remember one thing: money might be awesome, but that 10 percent is worth way more than that.
The House of the Lord
Remember when Malachi promised you so many blessings that you wouldn’t have room for them all? Well, he may have had the temple in mind for part of that because the blessings we can get from the temple are virtually unlimited. After all, committing to be a full-tithe payer is part of the requirements for a temple recommend.
While tithing is only one part of the temple interview, it shows a lot about you and your attitude. Just think of tithing as God’s way of knowing how much you want to spend time with Him in His house. By paying a full tithe, you’re showing gratitude for what He’s already given you, and you’re telling Him you’re ready to think about someone other than yourself. You’re saying that you want to be worthy of a temple recommend.
Once you get your own recommend, there’s so much for you inside the temple’s walls. President Thomas S. Monson said, “As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart” (“Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign, May 2015, 91–92). You’ll find answers to questions and doubts, and as you serve the dead, the cares of life and school will fade and you will find joy.
That’s only a fraction of the temple blessings Heavenly Father has planned for you. Just stay faithful and keep paying that tithing, and those blessings will be yours.
Trust
Another great blessing from paying tithing is learning how to trust in God. Trusting can be tough. It can be risky, because it means relying on someone other than yourself to do what you can’t do alone. It means accepting uncertainty and taking a step into the unknown.
Fortunately, the Lord recognizes how difficult trust can be, especially when it comes to tithing. So He gives us all a simple challenge to help us take initial steps of faith. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).
With that one statement, it’s like the Lord is calling out to all of us to just give Him—and tithing—a chance. He wants to show you that when it comes to Him, there’s never risk involved. It’s because as you take that first step and pay your tithing, blessings will inevitably come, whether temporal or spiritual, and you will know that He will always be there to protect and guide you during your trials (see Deuteronomy 7:9).
So what are you waiting for? With only 10 percent on the line, what do you really have to lose?