Why do I need privacy?

Have you ever asked yourself that question?

Well that was a question that popped in my head when I read this...

At an interview with CNBC, when answering a question about internet users' need for privacy, the CEO of Google, Schmidt said "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."*

Privacy means:

1. seclusion: the state of being apart from other people and not seen, heard, or disturbed by them

2. freedom from attention of others: freedom from the observation, intrusion, or attention of others

3. hidden condition: the state of being kept secret**

At a recent retreat, the minister mentioned that our pastors had the right to check on our tithes level - to see if/how we are progressing. He quickly added that he know some people will quote Matthew 6:3 - saying no one needed to know what they were giving.

He then said if you look at that passage, it referred to giving alms not tithes - let's read it together: "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (Matt 6: 1-4 - NKJV).

Paying tithe is an obligation not an option: Mal 3:10-12 is clear in the seed-and-harvest relationship when we tithe. "Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. (Amplified). Now who wouldn't want such a harvest from their seed? I sure do.

It is obviously for our benefit that our pastor knows what our tithe is - like the minister said, if your tithe has not increased over a period of time, most likely, your finances have not improved and that is a cause for concern on your behalf. Indeed like Eric Schmidt said "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."*

In our case, the need for privacy goes beyond whether or not you want anyone to know how low your tithe is...that's not the crux of the matter.

It is more and all about making a decision and taking the action to stop defrauding yourself out of abundance and give unto God what is His.

Sources:

*http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/07/schmidt_on_privacy/
**http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3&search=privacy