ChaChing!

I recognize that there are those that either do not understand, or for whatever reason do not believe in the practice of tithing.  That is a very personal decision that everyone must settle for themselves.  But there are many people, that although they may understand and believe in tithing, just cannot fully bring themselves to that kind of commitment – because they are fearful.  They fear that by giving God 10% of their income, they will not have enough money to spend on the things they will need.  The problem with that way of thinking is that they likely are not good stewards of any of their money.  It is not the lack of that 10% in their bank account that is the problem; it is how they manage that remaining 90%.

People tend to spend too much on things that they want vs. things they really need.  Don’t try to deny it – we all do it – I am very guilty of this myself.  (However, I have committed to doing my best to change that.)  The issue is that we over-indulge ourselves with things that just are not necessary. 

Just a few examples:  

Instead of purchasing a travel mug and making ourselves a cup of coffee at home, doctored up the way we like it, we instead stop by our favorite coffee shop and purchase a fancy cup of Joe for several dollars.  ChaChing!  

Instead of shopping at department stores that offer name brand clothing at substantial discounts, we go to the big name box stores at the mall and pay outlandish prices for those same or similar pieces of clothing.  (Or even better yet, quit worrying about whether or not it is some big name brand, there are very nice clothes out there made by unknowns that can save you a lot of money.)  ChaChing!    

Instead of going to the grocery store and always buying only name brand foods, we could buy the store brands.  When we buy the name brands we consequently spend more for our groceries than necessary, unless they just happen to be on sale for less than the store brand.  (To be honest, I have found that some of the store brands are generally as good as, or even better than, the name brand I had been using.)  ChaChing!  

There are so many more ways that we misuse our money.  It only takes a bit of thinking, planning and executing our lifestyle more efficiently to find ways to economize – to better use that 90%.  We cannot allow money to become such an all-encompassing importance in our lives that it becomes our god.  Remember what it says in 1 Timothy 6:10 (AMP): “For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.”  (Please note that this verse is often misquoted.  What it does not say is that money is the root of all kinds of evil, it says the love of money…)

We have to be certain that money is only in our lives for what it is intended and not put it into such a high place that it corrupts.  In Matthew 6:24 (AMP) Jesus says:  “‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].’”  Jesus also said in Luke 12:34 (NLT): “‘Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.’”  Is your “treasure” upper-most in your mind in all that you think and do?  Your primary desire?  Are you always concerned about money, possessions, fame, status, etc?  If so, it’s time for some readjustment in your logic regarding those things.      

If you do not tithe and have financial concerns, you need to sit down and take a good hard look at how you spend your money.  I would issue this challenge to you – start off by getting yourself a small notebook that you can keep with you at all times.  Then for just one month, write down in that notebook every single penny you spend and what you spend it on.  I would almost guarantee at the end of the month, you will be surprised – probably even shocked – at the results.  You will see a lot of waste, I can almost guarantee it.  That will hopefully be an incentive to alter your spending habits and help you begin to see your way clear to better money management; and, the path to honoring your Lord with His very small, fair share of your income – that 10%.  Then, sit back and watch your blessings arrive.  The Apostle Paul said this:  “‘And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.’”  Philippians 4:19 (AMP)

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”  (Luke 6:38 NLT)  I believe greed results in shortages and generosity results in blessings.

In doing a search about greed vs. generosity, the AI search came up with this:  “Generosity is God’s antidote to greed. Every time we choose to give, we break the power that money attempts to have over our lives.” 

Written by Karran Martin – January 2019 & Revised February 20, 2026

[All bold emphasis is mine]