WINDOWS OF HEAVEN

 

There is a principle of the Gospel that paved the way to my Church membership. I have had a very strong testimony of this principle ever since.

When I was looking into the Church I was only 17. I obtained information about it from my local library. Everything I read seared my soul and I knew I had to be a member of such an amazing community of saints. I knew the Church was true and longed to be a part of it.

One Sunday I arrived at the nearest chapel to see the Church for myself. What I saw was the saints coming in and out of the building and I longed to be one of them but presumed that I couldn’t because I wasn’t a member.

What came into my mind as I looked on longingly was the principle of tithing. I thought to myself, I would gladly give the Church my entire pay if I could just sit in that building. I was working full time by then and earning my own money. I was at the threshold of becoming my own person but it would seem what I wanted more was God and His Church.

At the time I didn’t realise the significance of this but now, years after obeying the law of tithing, I do. Money is a tangible symbol of the world we live in and on that fateful Sunday, God was calling me out of the world.

Besides opening the windows of heaven, our commitment to live this commandment, takes us out of Babylon. It is the beginning of our faith in God rather than the mortal world we are placed temporarily into. It is the deciding factor of our path to either God or Mammon (Matthew 6:24). Mammon being an Aramaic word for riches (Guide to the Scriptures, Gospel Library)

I am sure we are all familiar with the scripture that says: “He that is tithed shall not be burned at His coming” (D&C 64:23). This is how failure to pay tithing becomes a slippery slide to this demise: “This is what it means…when a man who ignores the express command of the Lord, by failing to pay his tithing, the Spirit of the Lord will withdraw from him; it means that the power of the priesthood will withdraw from that man…..He will drift away into darkness, gradually but surely, until finally he will lift up his eyes among the wicked.

“That is where he will finally land; and then when the destruction comes and when the burning comes he will be among the wicked and will be destroyed; while those who observe the law will be found among the righteous, and they will be preserved…..” (Elder Rudger Clawson, In CR Oct 1913, p 59, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual p 138)

That we may know that our faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death (D&C 121:44), the Lord requires ‘the hearts of the children of men’ (D&C 64:22) because ‘where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’ (Matt 6:21; Luke 12:34). We cannot possibly love God and love the world at the same time. We either obey one or the other.

In all our earthly sojourn we are deciding between God and the world. One has the power to lift us to eternity, the other leads to corruption of both body and spirit: “….for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon” (D&C 64:24)

The Saviour died that He might save us from the world. If we are of the world, we give the world more power than we give Him. This is a mockery of Him who descended into the pit of agony that He might rescue us from the clutches of evil and death. No such sacrifice has been offered by the God of Mammon.

Remember what Jesus said about the rich young ruler who rejected Christ by choosing to hold onto his wealth: “….how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! With men that trust in riches, it is impossible but not impossible with men who trust in God and leave all for my sake for with such all these things are possible.” (Mark 10:17-24; JST 27a)

Tithing is one mortal journey worth taking. It's a journey that will in the end help you discover the real treasure…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Rich Young Ruler)