Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health; your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.
–Proverbs 3:5-9 (MSG)
. . .
For as long as I can remember, my parents have taught and modeled the importance of tithing—giving God a percentage of your income in an effort to bless others and acknowledge that everything you have comes from Him. At the age of seven, I remember smiling a proud, gummy smile on Sunday mornings, dropping my dime into the offering box; I joyfully tithed on my allowance and tooth fairy money.
When I got older, it became harder to tithe because I realized the importance of money in the real world. I knew how many hours I needed to work to fill up the tank or how tithing might cut into my Starbucks budget. During the last year of high school and my freshman year of college, I stopped tithing altogether. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong, but looking back—I know I was being selfish and disobedient.
. January 2009 .
After hearing a convicting message during my sophomore year in college and studying Bible verses about tithing, I became convinced that I needed to give again. I sat down on a Saturday afternoon and figured out how much money I was making and how much I needed to give away every week. The first few weeks were easy, then Christmas shopping came, then tuition bills came, and then a bank robber disguised as the University bookstore came. When second semester of my sophomore year started, I had $31.98 to my name.
On a Sunday morning in early January, I peered into my wallet and glanced at the measly bills inside—ironically, the exact amount I needed for my weekly tithe. But my part-time paycheck wouldn’t be deposited for another week. I was worried about cutting into my already feeble bank account. But as I peeked into my wallet, I could almost hear God saying, Heather, won’t you trust me? I put my money in the bucket, feeling a little sick to my stomach, but convincing myself that I had done the right thing.
Two days later, on Tuesday afternoon, I checked my campus mailbox. Inside was a white envelope with my name written in large letters on the front. I opened the envelope and found a generic card with a Bible verse, no signature, and $50. I had kept my financial worries quiet, feeling it wasn’t right to broadcast money stats to everyone around me. But somehow, God had miraculously provided for me through this anonymous gift. I believe that $50 was His way of honoring my small gift on Sunday morning. It was His way of saying, See, I told you to trust me. Since that day, tithing has become a consistent part of my life.
. February 2010 .
As I prepared for my second spring break trip to Costa Rica, I wondered why God would ask me to go somewhere when there was no way I could afford the journey. Two weeks before my teammates and I boarded a plane to serve alongside the Bribri people, I still had no idea how I was going to pay for the trip. I was working two part-time jobs and my parents were supporting me, but I still needed to raise $700 to cover the cost of the trip.
I worked out a payment plan with our trip leader, deciding that in the worst-case scenario I could at least pay off the trip before the end of the semester. It was less than ideal, but it was a good plan. I continued working overtime, trying to earn the last several hundred dollars, but it seemed impossible. I prayed and asked God to provide for me, telling Him that if He wanted me to serve in Costa Rica He would need to help me out. I couldn’t do it by myself.
The next day I got a call from an anonymous campus organization. They told me that they were interested in donating some money toward my mission trip and asked if I could meet with them later that afternoon. I walked into the office, excited that the organization might be able to lighten the cost of my trip—an answer to prayer. But I never imagined that God would answer my prayers in such an unbelievable way. One of the officers sat across the table from me and said, Heather, we’re interested in supporting your work in Costa Rica. We’d like to pay off the balance on your trip. We’ll deposit the money into your account tomorrow.
I cried and laughed awkwardly and said, I can’t believe this, at least seven times. Then I left the office with a permanent stuck-on smile and a simple prayer, Thanks God.
. May 2010 .
Last week, I had my training with Experience Mission. As I prepare to go to Atlanta, GA for the summer to serve alongside the Salvation Army in the inner city, I am continuing to rely on God. If you’ve ever worked for a non-profit or in a ministry job, you probably didn’t do it for the money. Experience Mission takes great care of their summer staff, but on my drive home from training I began thinking about the “pay cut” I would be taking by serving in Atlanta. Again, I prayed, telling God that I trusted Him and that He must want me in Atlanta for a reason. I asked Him to provide for me financially so that I could pay my part of the tuition bill for fall semester.
When I got home, I found a letter on my bedroom dresser. The letter was from IWU, congratulating me on a Servant Leadership scholarship for the upcoming semester. The scholarship will go directly toward tuition and includes a portion to be donated to my charity of choice. The amount was almost exactly what I needed to make up the difference of what I might have earned in another job this summer. God had provided again—proving that His plan is perfect. Really, perfect!
Now more than ever, I’m convinced that God is faithful. I think Jesus talks a lot about money in the Bible because He knows what it means to us. He knows that our attitude about money often determines our attitude about Him. Although I’m not perfect, I’m starting to understand the importance of tithing more clearly. God wants us to give freely to others so that we can be surprised by the creative ways He blesses us.
The challenge: Trust God this week with your finances, your relationships, or your time and watch how He changes you.
