In Money We Trust?

There’s a reason why our currency says “In God We Trust”. Regardless of what the financial experts say, nothing can grow without God’s active involvement. It all belongs to Him anyway and we are mere stewards of what He has graciously given us. Eight years ago I learned that lesson the hard way.

Eight years ago I had hit rock bottom. I was working a job that was barely paying the bills; I couldn’t afford a home of my own so I was sharing my Mom’s one bedroom apartment and no matter how hard I tried, I could barely make ends meet. To make matters worse, something unexpected always seemed to arise that either devoured the little funds that I did have or put me in a situation where I had to borrow. I was maxed out on all my credit cards and the credit card companies just kept penalizing me with added fees and higher interest rates as a “motivator” to pay what I already had trouble paying. The banks also followed the same method of “motivation” by adding overdraft fees on top of overdraft fees making $0 in my bank account a goal to strive for.

I was drowning with no lifeguard in sight. It all came to a head that Christmas Eve when I got into a costly fender bender that I caused because of my preoccupied mind and negligence. $600 might just have well been $6,000 because it was unreachable and placed me in a situation, once again, to borrow from my mother. I was at a breaking point questioning God and singing the ‘Why Me’ song which I know He knows all too well. The next day I received an unexpected phone call from a Christian counselor that used to minister to me when I lived in New York. He had felt the urge to call me and when I poured out my heart to him, he led us both in prayer.

He later told me that while we prayed the Holy Spirit prompted him to ask me “Do you tithe?” At the time I was taken aback. Tithing? How could I? I couldn’t even pay my bills. Had he been listening to anything I had just told him? I became defensive and said “No, I can’t afford to!” He quietly but firmly replied “You can’t afford not to.”

My way of handling my finances had only led me to dead ends. Because I had cut God out of my financial affairs by not honoring Him through tithing, He was not able to do His part. I was keeping 100% of my income but it did me no good at all because Satan was spending it. Had I just honored God with the 10% that He asks us to do (Numbers 18:26), He would have been able to multiply my 90% so that it more than met my needs.

Deuteronomy 28:8: The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to.

I learned a valuable lesson in tithing that day. In my disobedience in failing to give God what was due to Him, I was doing myself a grave disservice. That Sunday, I asked God for forgiveness and I gave Him my tithe in faith. While I knew that the money I gave had already been designated to pay some overdue bills, I offered it anyway because I no longer wanted to live in disobedience.

The next day I received an unexpected email from a company that I had interviewed with nine months earlier. They were still interested and wanted to know if I was still available. That very week I was given a job offer. Not only was the position within my field of study but it paid more than double what I was making. God is great! One tithe of $60 given in faith had returned a $19,000 increase in salary! Since then I have been a devout ‘tither’.

I was tested two years ago but it was more in the area of being financially responsible with what God was giving me. When I asked by my financial adviser and close friend if I would be willing to cut back on my tithes, it was a no-brainer. I retorted “Absolutely not! That is not an option!” In the midst of a national economic downturn God continues to bless me abundantly and beyond my own understanding. Since that leap of faith eight years ago, my income has quadrupled and I also enjoy other fringe benefits that are not the norm in my line of work. God has truly shone His favor on me and I am now a living testament that obedience does bring abundant blessings!

Deuteronomy 8:18: But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…”

Are you going through a financial crisis? Has it tested you in the area of tithing? How are you dealing with the situation? We would love to hear from you. Please share your comments in the “Comments” section below.