Tithing with Your Time

In your opinion, which one of the following is more valuable: time or money?

I would imagine that many people would say that money is more valuable. I mean, money answereth all things, according to Ecclesiastes 10:19, right? Money is often necessary to obtain the things we need and desire. However, in my humble opinion, time is more valuable than money. 

Time is the one thing you can't get back. Money is a tool that's obtainable virtually at any time, from working a job to panhandling on the street. Some even make money in their sleep. Some are privileged to wake up to direct deposit notifications on the daily that are complementary to their salary. However, once that second, minute or hour goes by, it's gone. It will not return, and you can't get it back.  Therefore, making good use of the precious time presented to us is of the utmost importance, while we have breath in our bodies. 

The principle of tithing is commonly associated with money.  Some give ten percent of their income out of religious obligation or for philanthropic causes.  But God owns everything; therefore, He doesn't need your money (however, that's not an excuse to NOT give--Luke 6:38).  God wants YOU. He wants your heart, your submission, your relationship, your precious time. My former pastor, the late Apostle Ezetrick K. Wilson taught us this principle: We are given twenty-four hours in a day.  Ten percent of twenty-four is 2.40.  Therefore, two hours and forty minutes belong to God.  

But I don't have that much time to spend with God, one may say.  

Do you realize how precious and imperative it is to spend intentional quality time with God?  There are nuggets He wants to drop in your spirit. There are the things He desires to share with you because He is your Father, and you are His child. But these things are available and provided through setting aside time with Him. What if you treated your spouse/significant other in that manner?  Not making time to spend with them because you're too busy or too tired?  The other person would probably feel slighted, abandoned, overlooked, unliked, etc. The ultimate result would be a dying relationship accentuated with resentment and hurt, among other things. 

Now, imagine God feeling slighted, abandoned (because we are the ones who leave Him, not the other way around).  Not a good feeling. 

Some people claim that they want to hear from God, but what strides are they taking towards setting aside time with Him, much less cracking the Bible open?! Especially with the way many of us (myself included) are criminally attached to our CELLphones most of the time! And most of that time is spent on social media and/or YouTube, NOT the Bible app, if we can be transparent and honest. We can plan our days around everything else except God; but we sure can give Him a laundry list of things we want and expect Him to do for us, according to our timing. It doesn't work like that. 

Many of our hardships and disappointments can be avoided by spending quiet time in His presence and intentionally listening for His voice. That means we are not doing all the talking. Prayer should be a dialogue, not a monologue. Also, I've personally found that spending quiet time with God is not only spiritually beneficial, but it is wonderful for my mental health as well. 

If you can't commit to two hours and forty minutes, start off with at least 20 minutes and build from there.  God will honor your pure intentions.  Afterwards, you will begin to enjoy that time so much, you will eventually build up to that two-hour mark, if not beyond.  

I pray you were blessed and encouraged...

Shairon