Day 6 - Show Me The Money

How ironic that I read this lesson just before heading out to church on Sunday morning! The reading has to do with tithing (honoring God with the first 10% of our income). I must honestly confess that I have not always been faithful in my tithing. For a while, I will be giving faithfully over and above the tithe to my local church and to ministries with which I have affiliated myself. But then something happens to affect a change and it usually effects the tithe.


The most recent excuse I have for not giving faithfully was beginning to pay off student loans after earning an MBA. The first 6 months after graduation, I never thought once about the fact that I would soon be paying back all the money I borrowed. When I received that first bill for over $700, I began to think about how much money I had wasted and how I had not put aside money intended for that purpose. So the tithe suffered.


Did I cut out my regular visits to Costco? Did I stop getting my hair done? Did I stop getting my nails done? The answer is no, no and no. Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing these things. It is when those things take precedence over what I am called to do for God's Kingdom. I have seen God's faithfulness time and time again. There was actually a time in my life when I asked God to stop the blessings because I was so overwhelmed by how much He was blessing me. His answer to that prayer was "NO". 


I love giving, it is part of who I am. It is how God created me. How much am I (HIS creation) disappointing Him (my CREATOR) when I don't do what He created me to? 

God gave me a quote many years ago that I need to have inscribed on big letters on my living room wall...


"Creation is most majestic when it simply is what God created it to be...that includes us"


We sang a song that had a line that said "He cares about the sparrow, so I know He cares for me". Lord, forgive me for not trusting You enough with my finances. How arrogant of me to think that I can meet all of my own needs. 


I am glad to say that I got my checkbook out of my desk drawer and wrote the check for my tithe and offering. I feel that I am not forced to give, but I am honored to give back 10% (not that I am limited to that amount) of all which God has blessed me. It all belongs to Him anyway...


Thank you, Lord for blessing me with the ability and the means to give.


I love you, 


Pamela