My Story Of Financial Blessing
One day a friend asked my opinion on tithing so I decided to share how the Lord has blessed my finances. It was not always rainbows and butterflies…
My husband, Steve, and I were still students at the University of North Texas when we were married in August 2007. As you can imagine, we were young, broke college students living on love…and credit cards. We did not make very smart decisions and racked up some major debt in the first few years of our marriage.
I remember sitting on the bed, in our little one bedroom apartment in Denton, crying about not having enough money to buy groceries that week. I believe that sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to wake us up. Needless to say, we did not starve! God always provided for our needs.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
At that point, we realized that we needed to make some changes with our spending habits. Fast forward a couple of years, we move back to East Texas in 2010 and got plugged into a local church. In the summer of 2011, I started going to a women’s bible study where the topic of tithing came up. I had heard of tithing, but was not very familiar with the subject. So, I started doing research and talking to coworkers and friends about their views on the topic. I borrowed a copy of The Blessed Life, which really helped me understand God’s purpose for my finances and his plan for abundance in our lives.
After some thought, we decided that we needed to be obedient to God. So we began tithing the first 10% of our gross income to our home church. Now, let me just say…this was Not easy and honestly, as a very practical person, it did not make sense to me. I remember thinking… We are trying really hard to pay down credit card debit and make smart choices with our money and now we are going to start giving ten percent of it away!?! Looking back, I can see how God used tithing to grow my faith in Him.
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I know that Tithing is a touchy subject for many people. However, I believe it would be wrong to withhold information that I know to be True. Huge blessings are in store, when we are good stewards of the money we are given. 90% blessed income goes further than 100% not blessed income! Here are a few truths I have learned about tithing:
God is the Source & Provider
He created all the money in the world, all wealth and power comes from Him. I sure am glad that we have a gracious father who wants his children to prosper. The creator of the world sacrificed so that we could increase!
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18
“The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:8
You Show Honor with the Tithe
We honor and worship God with our tithe. I believe He used a percentage so that everyone is able to participate. God only asks for the first ten percent to be given back to Him. That is pretty generous.. if you ask me. Tithing is a very tangible way to show our faith in God.
“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce;” Proverbs 3:9
“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 16:17
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
There is Blessing in the Tithe
I believe that the Lord wants to bless his people through tithing. God does not need our tithe… His purpose will be accomplished either way. However, we have a good good father who desires to prosper us! All we have to do is believe and act in faith.
“Consider this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:6–7
“The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3:10
Tithing has built my faith and continues to keep me in check. It’s a great reminder of who is truly Lord of my life. You can see what is truly important to a person by watching how they spend their money!
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Okay, back to the story! We started tithing in the Fall of 2011. After months of looking for a new job, I got a couple of leads and had two interviews set up on the same day. The first interview went well, I was offered the job but waited to accept until after the in next interview. I remember sitting out in my car before the second job interview and praying, “God please make it completely obvious if I am supposed to have this job”.
The second interview was amazing, I mean it blew my socks off. I left thinking…”Wow God….I got the message..This is it”! About one week later, I got the call… I was offered the job which would give me a 50% raise! Talk about a financial blessing… out of 50+ applicants, many of whom were more qualified, I was chosen! Four and a half years later I am still at that great job God blessed me with.
In January 2013, I had some medical issues come up that required an MRI test. This was a totally unexpected expense that we were not prepared for. We had been making a lot of headway paying down our credit cards, but this threw a wrench in things. After insurance, we put around $600 out of pocket expenses on our card. I was really upset but it had to been done. The next day, after getting home from work, Steve checked the mail. We had gotten a check for nearly the exact amount we paid for the medical test. I burst into tears because I knew that it was God. He knew the outcome all along!
In 2015 we had the opportunity to take Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, which I highly recommend! I believe it is a great resource no matter your financial situation. This program answered some questions we had and gave us an awesome biblical perspective. We continue to see God’s favor in our marriage, family, friendships and finances!
With that being said, I want to clarify that tithing is not about receiving a blessing and there is no formula for how God works. Tithing is all about the condition of your heart. God wants our hearts to be inclined towards Him and wants us to give from a place of willingness, not reluctantly or out of obligation (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Please hear me when I say, there is no condemnation here. I simply want to share my own experience as I am still learning how to be a good steward and honor God with my finances. I pray this is an encouragement to you!
Listen to this podcast to learn more about Tithing and Abundance:
