«Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine» (Proverbs 3:9, 10).
Philately is, according to Webster’s New World Dictionary, the collection and study of postage stamps. These stamps represent many of the characteristics of the region through figures.
The word is formed from the Greek words philos, which means «love, and ateleia, which means «paid in advance. » We could say that tithing is in a way like stamps. It is a small but necessary part for an important message to reach its recipient (although in reality, God is the One who has paid in advance).
This stamp must be there, although it may be worth only a few cents. It is the external part, but the contents of the envelope are what really matter. By giving our tithe, however little it may be, we demonstrate that there is a willingness of our hearts to recognize our Creator, the recipient of our payment.
This arrangement can be worked from the same beginning and in a practical way by setting aside our tithe as the first thing we do when we receive our salary or an amount of money, by choosing the newest or cleanest banknotes, by organizing the rest of our finances in a way that also honors God, and so on.
Each stamp will have its unique characteristics and will represent a different region. We are also unique individuals, and with the currency of our region, we give something that will then be distributed at different levels and in different places for different purposes.
However, this seal is a sign of our faithfulness to God. An envelope without a stamp does not make much sense in the end. It will not go anywhere and cannot get an answer.
Neither can we receive many of the blessings that God is ready to give us if we do not do our part. «The Lord has imparted to us heaven’s richest treasure in giving us Jesus. With Him He has given us all things richly to enjoy…. He asks us to acknowledge Him as the Giver of all things (Counsels on Stewardship, ch. 12, p. 65).
Next time you take an envelope in your hands, remember the value of the stamps. Next time you prepare to give your tithe, remember that the most important thing is the attitude of your heart.