THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS OF PROSPERITY
December: Tithing
If we think about it, most of us can remember all the ways that we are blessed every day. The blessings in our lives are actually witnesses to the goodness of God. It is easy to be caught up in the everyday concerns and cares, and to forget that we live in a world of abundant good. Oprah captured this idea in her suggestion to create a gratitude journal, in which we record all the blessings of the day, at the end of each day. Taking time for giving thanks is so important in our overall happiness, because we are acknowledging God’s presence everywhere around us, in tangible ways.
Tithing and giving are ways of expressing that gratitude. Why do so many spiritual teachers emphasize it? From Biblical times, it has proven repeatedly to be an effective way to live in awareness—a life awakened to possibilities, to God. These possibilities are expressed in the Malachi passage below as the blessings poured out from the windows of heaven. What a lovely image! Can you savor the feeling of those blessings pouring out over you in endless supply? This is the fullness of life that we all are looking for. The windows, or channels of God’s love, completely open to us as we tithe.
With that blessing, we can only magnify it by continuing the cycle of giving back to God. The cycle continues to spiral out into the universe. As we give to God through spiritual enterprises such as the church, the good multiplies and energizes the world.
What the Bible says:
“…yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” Mal 3:10
“And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.’” Matt 4:24
What Unity says:
“By the act of tithing, men make God their partner in their financial transactions and thus keep the channel open from the source in the ideal to the manifestation in the realm of things. Whoever thinks that he is helping to keep God’s work going in the earth cannot help but believe that God will help him.” Charles Fillmore, Keep a True Lent
“If you would have your material affairs prosper, agree with Jehovah to give one tenth of your income to some work dedicated to God. If you keep your part of the agreement, you may rest assured that the Lord will keep His and abundantly prosper you, that your financial affairs will be taken care of without worry or strain on your part, and that you will come into a land where peace and plenty go hand in hand.” Charles Fillmore, Mysteries of Genesis
“If we follow the Spirit of wisdom we shall not give to anything that is contrary to the teaching of Jesus, but spend every penny in furtherance of the good news of life that He proclaims and in the promotion of the brotherhood of man that it is His mission to establish on earth….” Charles Fillmore, Prosperity
“In this age, when we have so much, more is required of us, even to the giving of ourselves with all that we are and have. This privilege carries innumerable benefits with it, for it looses us from the personal life, unifies us with the universal, and so opens our inner and outer life to the inflow and the outflow of the life, love, bounty, and grace of God.” Charles Fillmore, Prosperity
“When anyone puts God first in his finances, not only in thought but in every act, by releasing his first fruits (a tenth part of his increase or income) to the Lord, his faith in omnipresent supply becomes a hundredfold stronger and he prospers accordingly.” Charles Fillmore, Prosperity
The tenth should be set apart for the upkeep of some spiritual work or workers. It should be set apart first even before one’s personal expenses are taken out, for in the right relation of things God comes first always…. The great promise of prosperity is that if men seek God and His righteousness first, then all shall be added unto them.” Charles Fillmore, Prosperity
“Another blessing that follows the practice of tithing is the continual ‘letting go’ of what one receives, which keeps one’s mind open to the good and free from covetousness…. When a person tithes he is giving continuously, so that no spirit of grasping, no fear, and no thought of limitations gets a hold on him.” Charles Fillmore, Prosperity
Ideas for practice:
• If you are already tithing, what is your next step? Savor the feeling you have when you make your gifts. Is there more you want to do? In the Bible, tithing is considered a starting place for giving. Once you have established the discipline of tithing, you may feel promptings to give over and above the tithe to other important organizations, or to give a special gift to your church’s capital campaign. Leaving your church in your will is yet another way you can continue to make an impact beyond your physical lifetime. Constant listening for the inner wisdom of the Christ will help you to discern anything further you are called to do.
• When you receive a request for funding assistance, take the item into prayer, especially if it is a significant commitment. You want to be sure that your giving is connected to your spirituality, not just an obligation. Some questions to consider are, “Is this something I really care about? Is it connected with what I came here to do? Does it further my own purpose on this earth? Does it connect with my own goals in some way?” If the answer is still unclear, or you have mixed feelings, allow the feelings to surface in your quiet time. Welcome them all, regardless of comfort. Let them be. You might find it helpful to meditate on meeting your inner Christ, and sharing your feelings (without editing) with Him/Her. What is His/Her response? What is the heart of Christ like? Journaling can provide further clarity—write out this “conversation.”
• As the year closes, consider the experiences you have had with prosperity this year. Go back through your journal and review your notes on this topic. Can you identify particular ways in which you feel you have grown through this study of prosperity? Are there areas in which you would like to spend more time in the coming year? Reconnect to your purpose, and see if it still resonates for you. Have you achieved your goals? Set new ones, if you have, or reconsider the old ones, if you have not. Are they still important? What is Spirit calling you to do regarding them now? Set goals for the New Year, connected to your purpose.
• Discuss any of these exercises and review the year in your prayer triad.