Giving "Elementary School"

​Giving is not first about money. It’s about your relationship to God, the universe, yourself, and everyone else. Who is the Source and Center? Who am I? Who is my neighbor? Am I my neighbor’s keeper? What do I owe God and the people and community around me? I could tell you my ideas. But when you see how I actually deal with money, then you will know who or what I really trust.
Tithing is basic biblical wisdom for everyday life. Get your relationships right with God, the universe, yourself, and everyone else by giving away 10% of your income. 
I hear the resistance now. “Pastor, there’s more to it than that!” “You don’t really have to give that much do you!?” To which I say, you gotta learn your ABCs before you can read. Don’t skip the ABCs of giving. For thousands of years, countless communities of Christians, Jews, and Muslims all around the world have taught and practiced giving away a set proportion of income and wealth (“tithing”). They’ve met God because of it! It’s been powerful! Given that track record, don’t you think it’s worth taking seriously?
Taking tithing seriously requires us, at a minimum, to do the math and consider the possibility. What do I give now, as a flat dollar amount and as a proportion of my income? What is 10% for me? What could I to do, be, or change to get there? What if I took one step and gave just 1% more of my income away this year? Or ½ percent this month?