Not Affordable

Haha any guesses about what I studied this week?? Tithing! 

Sometimes we think of tithing as hard... and I understand. Obviously, not as much as others, but I get it...but let me tell you what I learned this week!!

First, Doctrine & Covenants 119:5, "tithed of their surplus properties." Surplus means a quantity much larger than needed, desired, or required. To put things simply, God knows what we need and want, sometimes it takes a little faith, but we can trust that we will have what we need after we pay our tithing.

And... second, D&C 29:34, "not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal." During the first few months of my mission, I had the opportunity to go to a personal finance class to translate for a member, and there was one thing that really stuck with me that I learned: everything can and should be tied back God, everything is spiritual, even things like money, and our jobs. There was a quote I read from a talked titled "Tithing" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks it says "the tithing payers tended to keep their employment, enjoy good health, and be free from the most devastating effects of economic and spiritual depression." This was written about those during the Great Depression. Who knew that following a commandment of God to pay tithing, can bless us in such a way- to have good health, jobs, and other economic and spiritual blessings. 

We can even see this in Malachi 3 and 3 Nephi 24. It says that "the windows of heaven will open, and pour you out a blessing" (spiritual) and I will "rebuke the devourer- he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground" (temporal). I know that when we pay our tithing, we will receive blessings, both temporal and spiritual. 

Lastly, many people say that they can't afford to pay their tithing. But while I was studying, I read something different "I can't afford not to pay my tithing." God has blessings that he is just waiting to pour over us, but not keeping his commandments, not paying our tithing... that's postponing those blessings, to some of us who need them! Another thing that tithing helps us with, that I've never really considered, is that as we pay our tithing, we are reminding ourselves that our goals shouldn't be on the money we have, or the things we can buy with it; it helps us focus on and set goals that will help us become like Christ!!

I don't have any super crazy stories this week, but it was still amazing! I love the people here, and I am grateful for the relationships I've made with them!!

My question for the week is: What does it mean to put on Christ?