The Tithe of Our Time
by Bonnie Peacock

You have seen adults curl their index finger at a small child, enticing them to toddle across the room, haven’t you? That is exactly what God has been doing to me over the past several years.

Long ago, I established my early morning prayer. I adjusted to rising long before the sun peaks over the horizon. It has become the best part of my day.

Yet, there is a continual draw of the Spirit for more. I know what God wants. For too long I relegated Him to my early morning hours. Although I talked to Him throughout the day, when I left work I relaxed from life and, I’m afraid, from Him too.

The few hours before bedtime were filled with family, friends, chores, and doesn’t everyone need some type of entertainment? How I could squeeze God into the mix of my evening routine escaped me. I was not excited about trying to make room for Him.

However, in my pursuit of God, I was met with this persistent appeal. He was relentless. He intended to be a part of my evenings too.

Reverend Cleveland Becton once stated, “God is high-maintenance!” I began to understand what that meant. God was not satisfied unless He was the central focus of every part of my life.

Looking back, I am not so sure it was the time of day He was concerned about. The fact I was not including Him in a portion of my life stymied our relationship. I was sincere in my longing for more of Him. It is my desire that Romans 8:14 be fulfilled in my life. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Being led by God is not a part-time endeavor. He is continually speaking. I must turn down the volume of my life if I want to hear His voice.

During a time of prayer and fasting, I relented. “God, I will give You thirty days. Along with my morning prayer, I will do my best to also give you an hour each evening. But, you’re going to have to help me allocate my time.”

Family time and responsibilities did not seem to pose a problem, but the time I had spent reading novels didn’t seem as satisfying after I discussed them with the Lord. He also put His finger on my idle chit-chat with friends that often resulted in the exchange of our personal opinions about others in the church.

I did something radical for me. I gave God my relationships. I had allowed my priorities to get out of order. When I began making God a part of those areas of my life too, it was easy to refocus.

Is God against having friends?

No. But I have found that He is concerned about who and what we talk about. Instead of confrontations and misunderstandings, the people I had been spending an inordinate amount of time talking with become busy. I felt that God had ordered our steps. Not just for my good, but for theirs too.

As the month drew to a close, I reminded God of my extra commitment to Him. I felt His gentle question. Can’t we do this all the time?

God wants us—all of us. We sing, “Jesus, be the Lord of all the kingdoms of our hearts,” without considering what all entails.

In reading the Word of God, I ran across Malachi 3.

“Return to me, and I will return to you.”

“In what way shall we return?”

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me.”

“How have we robbed You?”

“You have robbed Me in tithes and offerings. Bring all your tithes into the storehouse, so there shall be food in Mine house. Test Me and see. I will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that you will not have room to receive it!” (Malachi 3:6-12, paraphrased.)

We have no problem honoring God with our finances. In fact, sometimes we throw money His way, hoping to quiet the gentle prodding we feel in our spirit to spend more time with Him.

What if we were to tithe our time? Each new day we live is an increase of our life. Are we robbing God when we are stingy with our time? Don’t we owe a part of each day back to the One who gives us breath?

I have to admit, after working all day I am sometimes too tired for intelligent, fervent prayer. But it is a wonderful time to allow God to speak to me through His Word. After a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings and protection of the day and some much needed repentance, I can open the Bible, and He never fails to restore my soul.

It does not matter whether I am reading the Scripture from Genesis to Revelations or pick a topic to study. It is amazing how much the Word of God has to say about words like tired, weary, or peace. Whatever I need that day, His Word provides direction and strength.

The tossing and turning to go to sleep each night has evolved into peaceful rest. After spending the last minutes of the day with Him, anxieties are forgotten. He is taking care of me. I can enter into His rest. I am safe. I am secure.

I can say God is everything to me, but how much time did I spend with Him today?