The forth gift of tithing is allowing energy to move. It is about creating a world that we want. It is a continuation of Part II in how we give is just as important as what we give. As a refresher, the other Gifts of Tithing included:

• Part I – The basics premise of tithing is what we give is what we receive whether it is anger, money or love. Yet, the law of tithing goes further in that what we focus on (abundance or lack) is what we receive. Thus, we can be giving money, yet is the focus is on lack then lack is what we receive.

• Part II – How we give is just as important as what we give. If we give reluctantly, sparingly, expectantly, etc., the focus is on lack and that is what we receive. If the focus is on giving lovingly, joyfully, willingly and freely than we will receive what we give.

• Part III – Tithing showing us that we are already abundant while taking the focus off of lack.

This part of tithing is about creating the world that we want by giving to the world what we want. Many people have discussed the feeling of being nickel and dimed by companies and our economy (declining wages and increase gas and health care prices). Yet, at the same time we are gong out to Wal-Mart and eBay trying to find the best prices. Sounds like a paradox where we want to receive freely, yet at the same time we do not always give freely. This is where tithing comes in. Tithing is the instant where we give without the expectation of getting anything back. Wouldn’t it be great to get a bonus from your boss just because he is gracious and not because you had to break your back working 12 hour days for weeks on end?

Part of tithing is the belief that money flows just like energy. When money flows it is limitless. When we try to hoard it or push money away that is when the flow stops. Many people believe the rich are hoarding money where they hold a great majority of this country’s wealth. Yet, where would we have been if Bill Gates wanted to be poor (pushed money away) instead of writing a computer program in his parent’s garage? In addition many middle class families have lived in extremes. There are many who are spending beyond their means which is not healthy. Yet, many are swinging the pendulum to saving and hoarding just to become a millionaire. There is nothing wrong with saving, investing and being frugal. However, frugality can be done to an extreme where the flow of money stops. This is called a depression. For example, my grandmother grew up in the Great Depression and learned how to be frugal. Yet, even after my grandparents had great financial success, my grandmother still prided herself on being frugal including adding eggs to her hamburgers to stretch the meat. If everyone is finding the best deals and how to live minimally, where do you think the economy will be?

Part of the reason why I created this website was to teach a new way of thinking about money. We typically believe in a give and take economy where we need to find the greatest bargains to feel good. Yet, at the same time we are encouraging companies to do the same with our salaries where the bargain may be in India or China. Now some may say it is the chicken or the egg syndrome of which came first (companies outsourcing or consumers wanting bargains). It doesn’t matter because it only matters what we can do about it now and that is to changing our thinking. If we are always trying to find a bargain, we give the right to others to treat us the same way. If you give freely, then you are opening yourself up to gifts from others.

One thing that you will notice with this website is that there are currently no ads. I do this for three reasons. First, I typically find ads annoying. Thus, if I do not want to be annoyed, then I shouldn’t annoy others. Second, I do not want to imply that an AdSense ad that I do not control (e.g. an ad on payday loans) is something that I would recommend. Third, this site was designed around my belief in giving freely. I do it as a way to help others without any expectations of receiving. I do have a giving back section where I do welcome donations because as a part of the process, I need to be open to receiving. And, the first person is gave a donation the other day (thank you Carol). And, more important was the note she sent because for me I like hearing that I am having an effect on the people that are reading this website.

Some may say that this is hog wash (wanting a thank you more than money). Yet, so be it. Right now, I am in a position where I stay at home to raise my son (and work on this website) as my wife works. I also know that if my wife and I had to switch, that by helping people now, the more of a following I will have down the road to make the switch possible. Yet, for now, a thank you means more than having a few ads to pay the bills.

Lastly, if I do a job that I love, then the money will follow. Many work to save for retirement and then can not wait to retire because they do not enjoy what they are doing. However, if I enjoy what I do, then why would I want to retire? Have you noticed how many people who love what they do (e.g., coaches, Oprah, etc.) do not retire even after they have enough for retirement? The answer is that they love the process of giving of themselves (tithing their talents), so why would they want to stop.

The question is how do you give? What type of country/world do you want to live in and how are you supporting its growth?

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 14th, 2006 at 11:19 am and is filed under Tithing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.