House-hunting
I loved the neighborhood I lived in so in the evenings after work or on weekends, I’d drive around or stroll through the place looking at places I’d like to live. There was one particular place not far from the apartment I was renting that I always liked. I managed to get the real estate broker’s number from the management and amazingly when we met, the only place she could show me, the only listing she had, was a in a word: perfect. It was newly re-modeled, barely lived in, and simply and elegantly furnished. And though the price was fair, I could not afford it. That was the first place I looked at. I went to see 10 more but none were like that first one– the look of the place and the way it felt just was so positive.To give or not to give
I could not stop thinking about that first place (let’s call it Apartment 1005) and I re-worked my spreadsheets over and over to see if I could find money by cutting back spending here and there but the numbers just would not work out UNLESS, I stopped tithing and use the money to add to the mortgage payments. I was desperate– I knew if someone with just a bit more money than I would see this place, it would sell in a second. I had a long prayer time telling God how much I wanted the place and how it would be a home for the small family I wanted to have. In the end, I relented telling God, “If this is the cost of obedience and if this is my way of showing you I love you more than my ambition, so be it. I know you have a plan for me and you have your timetable for it.” That prayer ended in peace but I can’t say it wasn’t painful. There were times when I’d give my tithe, I’d be reminded of that apartment and it made the giving hurt.Second chances?
Eight months, a pay increase, and the previous year’s bonus later I resumed the search for my own place. The first person I called was that same broker to check on Apartment 1005 to see if with some degree of luck it would still be available. To my shock she said, “Yes it is. And I believe it was you who last looked at the place. If you think the price is too high maybe we can ask the owners for a discount.” She went and asked and they were willing to let it go for 10 percent less. I got back to my spreadsheet and again I wouldn’t have enough to pay the monthly mortgage payments but not my much this time. Was God playing games with me? The place was still available, I got a 10 percent discount, and I’m short by so little! And yet again, i was tempted to cut into my tithe. I don’t know how I did it but I had just enough faith to resist. That week I was telling my colleague at work how I’m so close but so far away from buying this house. Then a few days later when I got my salary, I saw an increase in my pay. This was the most overwhelming feeling because that pay increase, after income tax and my tithe on it, was EXACTLY the amount I needed. It was an increase to reward me for my good work that year– totally unexpected.I got the house a little before my 31st birthday.
My budget then was so tight and for the next 15 years, which was the term of the loan, I’d be living on the equivalent of Dave Ramsey’s “rice and beans”.Then and now
A lot has happened since that day. Most notable of which is that on October 15, 2010, I paid off that house early, 11 years ahead of schedule without ever missing a month of my tithing for the last 4 years. Since the day I signed the papers on Apartment 1005, financial and career blessings (promotions, successful investments, bonuses) poured in year after year that I’ve been able to increase the amount of my monthly payments as well as put payments against the principal. Somewhere along the way, I’ve moved tithing off my gross income instead of my net income, the financial blessings that have made it possible for me to pay off the loan quickly I’ve used to help others put siblings through school, start businesses, and pay for hospital bills. The small place I have I’ve shared by using it as a venue for prayer groups and temporary living for mission workers. It has been an awesome journey of faith. I came across this reading in Scripture today and I think it sums up what it feels like to be writing this:“May you understand with what extraordinary power he acts in favor of us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:19
Lessons I’ve Learned
- God doesn’t want my money, He wants my heart and He is faithful.
- Tithing is about not what we can give to God. It is about what God can give us when we let go and open ourselves up to Him to fill us.
- The practice of tithing frees us from the grip of materialism and greed. It teaches us that we are not what we own and its is possible to be happy and contented with less, letting us on the important things: faith, others / service, and relationships.
- We are merely stewards of blessings and they are meant to be used to bless others. And sharing feels much better than hoarding.
Such a beautiful testimony! I praise God for you, and I’m encouraged to continue giving God my heart and releasing any fears about financial provision 🙂
While I am pro-tithing, I find that many of the stories of people who tithe tend to come across as “I tithed and look what God did”, which can create a false expectancy, and false motivation. Yes, God does bless those who trust in him, but the ‘reward of God’ as some financial windfall or raise should not be the motivation for tithing.
I’m curious about one aspect. I am a tither and have been for many years. The first thing I pay each month (actually each week, but my “budget” is monthly) is a tithe. 10% of the top, before taxes, insurance and other pet projects.
But it has become so common, it’s now a habit. I don’t even think about it any more than the cable bill.
Bad? Good? Indifferent?
@Randy – this is a tough question that many people struggle with. Giving is an act of worship and if it becomes something you are “supposed to do” (legalistic) vs something you are doing in joyful response to God’s grace and provisions for you…I believe you should shake it up a bit. You could still take the 10% but when you give it to God’s ministries, pray and be thankful. Also, you could start taking some of that (or more) and asking God where He wants you to use it. We have two “funds” – one for ministries and one for people which we budget in and allow God to lead us to give. Whatever you do, give joyfully in response to God’s love and you will be doing the “right” thing.
Thanks for the article. That was truly encouraging.
This is a very inspiring article. I struggle with tithing, because the Lord wants a cheerful giver, and currently the situation at church well….. does not give me peace or happiness.
@Dave.B
I completely agree with you. We shouldn’t encourage people to tithe because there is a resulting monetary or financial reward. I believe we should encourage tithing because it teaches us to love and depend on God’s providence, be good stewards, and build Christian values. I also believe that God’s blessing does not come in material terms (which sometimes is our definition of a “blessing”) but rather in a change of heart (selfish to selfless, fearful to faithful, etc.) and a realization that God WILL provide what we truly NEED.
Thanks for bringing that up. I shared this on the forum not to spread the prosperity gospel but rather to celebrate a faith victory which I can’t even being to put a price on. May God continue to bless your good heart.
Clearly tithing and giving is one of the kingdom principles of acquiring blessing. What an amazing God we serve.
Tithing has been an issue very close to my heart lately. I want to give, and I want to give cheerfully, but my wife is not a Christ follower YET, and she sees the Tithe as simply giving money away when we can’t afford our car payment and are looking at getting is repossessed. My belief is that by tithing I am submitting to God and like someone above said, it’s not that He “wants” or “needs” our money… And that we are simply “Stewards”… Makes total sense to me but creates a major conflict between my wife and I… I’m hoping and praying she is brought close to God ASAP!!!
I can identify with the experience of the guest writer in tithing not that I got a house but that the Lord had taught me how to have JOY in giving my tithe. I learned 5 D’s while the Lord had been enabling me to give my tithe. They are: 1. Discipleship – a deacon showing me how; 2. Desire – God gave me the desire to honor HIM with my resources; 3. Decide – by tithing, I decided to honor God and give HIM full-control of the resources He is giving me; 4. Discipline – God disciplined me through faithful wise budgeting and practicing first fruits in handling finances; and 5. Delight – God enabled me to reach the point of delight – JOY in giving and receiving HIS blessings both in physical and spiritual sense. God is the owner and I am the steward. God makes the cycle of giving and blessing for HIS glory and the benefit of HIS Kingdom.
Eril, thanks for the comments. I should have said that I also give in addition to the tithe. I give to United Way through my employer (my wife too), I give in our small group session (that’s probably $100-$200/year or less), I give to Goodwill and Salvation Army, etc.
But those are all relatively small, probably 1%-2% of my income at most. But I don’t even feel the tithe anymore.
Let’s look at this another way, how do you feel about having a tithe drafted out of your checking account (assuming of course you don’t overdraw)? The tithe becomes as painless as the taxes we pay. Well, maybe less painful.
Thank you for sharing! I love this. While our story looks different from yours, we too struggled with tithing… we were making so little when we first got married, and it seemed impossible. But we did, and God provided. Thanks for writing this!
I really love this article. I really do, hopefully in the near future, I will be buying home so I can enjoy a home for my daughter and I. There is so much I want to do but I cannot do them since I am a renter. I am a beginning tither, it gets difficult at times where I do not think I will be able to tithe. But what I have found is if I pay my tithe before I pay everything else (giving this if I give weekly) I find myself making everything work out. Or its more like God showing me it will work out for my good.
I have also learned to be a cheerful giver. And it works. It might be in small ways but it works. God provides everything according to our faith.
@Briana -I ask myself that question sometimes. I also get that question a lot from my friends. I’m no expert but the Bible is explicit in tithing money. Maybe if we are considering tithing time, I believe it would be in addition to tithing money. In the end, I think it is all about a heart that is cheerful in giving and in obedience:) After all God does not ask us to obey in order to “put the clamps” on us but rather to free us from worry by teaching us to rely on his providence.
@Melissa- Your goals are so inspiring. I on the other hand, do not have my own family yet but I would like to be a good example and responsible provider for them in the future– the way you are. I can relate very much to your experiences on tithing and whether in big ways or small ways, when God comes through for me when I tithe I am always still so amazed and so humbled that such simple acts of faith come back in measure I do not deserve (whether financially or though other means)! God really loves us 🙂
Is tithing realistic on a poverty level income, especially when housing consumes more than half your income?
This message might be late but God will handle your situation when tithing or giving! When it’s hard to give your tithe I find that it can be 2 situations lack of finances and/or faith, but you can improve them both at the same time! I would focus on faith first by constantly starting off your day making God first to build your knowledge in his word and build a tighter relationship with him. With finances I would find strategies to reduce debt, improve earning potential and create a budget to see things that you might not really need and find ways to optimize your spending. These actions will help you make those steps towards tithing!
There are people and testimonies I have read that say tithe even when you cannot financial do it and God will handle the rest. They may be right but I understand when you have a certain type of pressure on you that makes it hard for you to make that step. Nonetheless you still need to ask God for guidance and make some type of plan to move forward towards doing it.
A great book around this is ‘Blessed Life’ with Robert Morris
Wow this is a wonderful testimony. May the Lord continue to bless you and open the floodgates of heaven as you continue to walk in faith with Him.
@MissT – thank you! May the Lord be ever-present in your journey as well 🙂