Finances and Giving

by Melissa J | More from this Blogger

19 Dec 2006 01:52 AM

Admittedly, I am not the best person to be giving advice about giving and finances; so I'm not going there. There does seem to be a supernatural impact in giving though whether by our time or with money.

I remember years ago when my husband and I were starting out. We were poor. We prided ourselves in not getting over our heads into debt, but did find ourselves charging our rent a couple times to make due. He was working 40 hours a week and I about 30. We were just beginning to understand what leaning on God for our needs was all about. I was in a situation at my job that I knew in my heart I needed to quit. When the opportunity was right, I did just that leaving my husband and I between $400 and $600 short a month.

Around this time, we had just started to step out in faith financially, working our way to tithing. After leaving my job, I had a peace that I knew could only come from the Lord, in the midst of a potentially stressful situation. My husband and I decided to take the next step in faith; though we did not know how we would even buy food, we began to tithe (a tenth of our income).

Whether it was amazing coincidence or divine, we knew it was God who provided for us. I had little side jobs offered out of the blue, we had rebates and refunds coming to us left and right, and were able to stretch the money we had. There were only a few people who knew about our financial situation at the time. We never missed one single payment nor did we have to use our credit card for rent. We never even sought a loan from anyone.

When we have financially overwhelming times in the year-especially around the holiday time, it always helps me to remember how God honored our faithfulness during that time years ago. It wasn't about the money. God doesn't need our money; He wants us to have faith in Him as our provider.

"'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'" (Malachi 3:10)

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

Scripture reference is quoted from the NKJV.

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Linda Hansen (1796) 19 Dec 2006 06:43 PM

MJ, thanks for sharing your story. It is so true, God doesn't need our money. He wants us to trust him and He will take care of us. Thank you for reminding us. Artcraft

Willow (40) 25 Dec 2006 10:10 PM

My husband and i have been Christians for eighteen years and we still struggle with tithing. We have felt recently to ask God how much we should give. We believe tithing is an old testament thing being for the provision of the Levites who had no land claims in Israel but today I am questioning my thoughts again. We asked God what he wanted us to give and got a specific amount but we are still struggling with giving this amount, less than our 10 %, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO?

Melissa J (13710) 27 Dec 2006 09:29 PM

I would give what is on your heart to give and make it your goal to increase. I believe in my own heart that God will honor your faithfulness. The new testiment does talk of tithing and it's said even Jesus gave, it seems though there is more emphasis on giving with the right heart rather than to appear righteous. My dh and I started with 5%. This is an area where I struggle too so I completely understand where you're coming from.