In his recent General Conference address, "The Lord’s Richest Blessings" by Elder Carl B. Pratt addresses tithing by telling a story of his grandparents. He draws the following implications:
Then again, perhaps it is just some peoples' way of justifying their materialism.
There is a possibility of misinterpretation in this story from my grandparents. We might conclude that since we pay tithing with money, the Lord will always bless us with money. I tended to think that way as a child. I have since learned it doesn’t necessarily work that way. The Lord promises blessings to those who pay their tithing. He promises to “open … the windows of heaven, and pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). I testify that He fulfills His promises, and if we faithfully pay our tithing, we will not lack for the necessities of life, but He does not promise wealth. Money and bank accounts are not His richest blessings. He blesses us with wisdom to manage our limited material resources, wisdom that enables us to live better with 90 percent of our income than with 100 percent. Thus, faithful tithe payers understand provident living and tend to be more self-reliant.There seems to be an unwritten belief in Mormondom that those whom God loves he gives money to. If this is true then obviously some very unworthy people are being "blessed."
Then again, perhaps it is just some peoples' way of justifying their materialism.
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