God has been teaching me a lot about money the last few days.
After I blew the money that I fund-raised for months, I was angry, but my anger turned to conviction.
He never intended for me to blow my money the way I did.
I admit have a problem, and it's a problem I'm willing to fix.
After feeling convicted, I wrote this in my prayer journal:
"Hey, look at that, I'm once again $200 dollars under my deadline. Lord, I took control of what was originally yours, so I'm laying that back down at your feet where it belongs, because I'm out of control. Have your way within my personal and world race finances. You promised to see me through this, so I trust you will give what I need, when I need it. 16,200 is nothing to You, so do as You please. Blow my little finite mind with what You're capable of and I promise to take my hand off of Your money, and let Yours be in place of what I was holding on to so tightly.
Money.
Money just sucks, y'all, because there never seems to be enough of it for all the cool things that we want. Every single day the newest, coolest thing seems to be coming out whether that be a video game, apple product, clothing item, accessory, whatever it is- we WAIT for the moment it's in stores.
We crave that moment.
Then it comes out, and we blow that money we've been saving for that specific product, and then 2 months later the same product company comes out with something better.
Gosh, it's such a vicious cycle! We are so gullible and easily convinced that we have to have it.
Why, though?
I'm a victim too.
If you look at my bank statements you'll see 99% of my money goes to eating out, Starbucks, a few shopping sprees here and there, fixing my car (because it's constantly needing some repair) and whatever else I allow myself to believe that I need.
But, that isn't how He wants me to spend His money. How is getting the newest, best, product that's for us, glorifying to Him?
It isn't.
I've been feeling convicted about money and how I think tithing works. "When I'm older with more money i'll tithe, but I don't have much to tithe so I'll spend it on things that I want now and later figure out how to budget my money, and in my budgeting I'll add the tithing."
Wrong thinking Andrea.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." Proverbs 3:9-10
It never gave an age limit when you should begin to give your money.
It never said "when you have this much money honor the Lord with your wealth."
It said, "HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH."
That's it. Plain and simple.
So, what does 'Honoring the Lord with your wealth' mean?
To me, it means giving to a ministry you believe in.
Whether it be an organization, some church ministry, a local ministry within your city or town, or a friend starting an organization. Just ANYTHING that glorifies His name and is created to make His name famous.
I want to rebuke the lie that tithing is just narrowed down to a church building. because, we are the church. We, us humans, combined together as believers, are the church.
But, by all means, if it is a church you've grown to adore and believe in, give there.
The money you have is not your money, it's God's.
He tells us to give the first of what we get and trust Him, so give without thinking twice.
Give to any ministry you believe is honoring the Lord best to their ability, a ministry you stand by, a ministry you're passionate about, and your proud to say "yes, that's mine."
I'm going to take a step further, wise words from my bestfriend :
In Bible times they didn't simply give to what they believed in… they gave to those who had needs. My thought has become not 'should I give?' but 'how much should I give?'
Where do you see a need that needs to be met?
Did you know that what you tithe to, invest in, and serve at, is claimed as yours?
As for me, I believe in myself (who He says I am),
so the first of every pay check is going to my race.
I believe in this organization.
I believe in the desire He's placed in me.
I believe in this race.
I believe in how He will change me and those that I come in contact with.
And I see a $12,000 need that needs to be met.
So, those of you who are like me, here's my question to you: What do you believe in? Where do you see a need? How are you going to bless Gods' work with your wealth?
edited by my best friend ever: reenbean dickson
(big thanks to you for being good at grammar and spelling, and for your friendship)
