By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
There was this group in Makati City whose preoccupation was prosperity. Materially, that is. One of their techniques is through tithing. It means you regularly give a tenth of your income, production or possessions in the service of our Creator, or in the service of others in need.
I also know of a religious group which is very strict in the collection of tithes from their members Some of their members were my workers before and if they missed going to their scheduled worship, some of their elders would come around to have a chit-chat with those members. It must have been to inspire them spiritually and/or to be regular in the giving of their tithes or donation. I don’t really know how much—might be 10%. So their church is progressive. Materially, that is. Or in terms of having big churches which are all over the place.
I know of another group though that requires its members to donate only 2% of their earnings. And this is voluntary. Their leaders or elders will not be hounding you to cough up the amount if you really cannot.
Tithing therefore is giving to help others. Or to help a church. I know, you can quote a lot of Biblical passages about it. But the way I look at things, giving to help others in need has an equal and opposite reaction. It is the law of nature, not just of physics. If you give, you will also be given. If you help, one of these days you will also be helped.
If you are selfish, the world will be selfish with you. If you are always angry, the world will deal with you in an angry way.
Why will you be a recipient of the nature’s bounty when you regularly give to others in need? It is because you are actually foregoing your resources as you will, in the end, rely on His grace to satisfy your needs. It does not mean you just sit and be lazy and expect to be taken care of. It means you will do everything within your power to take care of your needs. If that is not enough, however, you can expect His grace to fall on you in innumerable ways.
I believe in all these. So even when I was almost unable to pay hospitable bills, I try in my very small way to regularly donate to worthy humanitarian causes. For life is not a one-way street. As a friend aptly said, we give some, we take some.
So for those who think the world is cruel or all bad luck, it might be time for self-examination along this perspective.
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