I was 14 years old when I received God’s grace and became a Christ follower.  The man that led me to this truth bought me my first Bible and began to teach me the truths of God’s Word.  One of the first lessons he taught me was in my relationship with money.  He shared with me that this was part of discipleship.  He asked me if I ever received money.  I told him that I receive a little allowance from my mom, and I also mow the neighbors yard for money too.  He asked me to bring the money I made the next time so he could teach me a biblical principle. 

Tithing means ”a tenth”.  From the beginning of the Bible, God gives this call for followers to give to him.  It has less to do with God needing our money and more to do with God wanting our heart.  In giving to God, I recognize that all good things I have come from God.  By giving to him first, I am reminded that He is Lord of everything.  I am reminded that I my faith and trust are in him.  I am reminded that there is no short cut to obedience.  My mentor shared with me that I should decide at 14 of how I am going to view money so I can experience financial freedom and so I can learn generosity.  I am grateful I learned this truth when my income was small and seemingly insignificant so as it grew over the years, I would know to give first.

Pam and I married when I was 22 years old.  I had finished all my core classes, but I still needed to student teach before we I could graduated.  We were married on August 1st, but I still had a semester to student teach which meant no job.  I remember one of our first spiritual conversations as husband and wife, was about this principle of giving to God first.  I shared with her of my conviction of what we needed to practice in our financial life.  Now don’t forget, I don’t have a job.  I am not making any money during this next three months.  So essentially I was telling her what I wanted to do with her pay check.  She lovingly shared that she wanted to do that, but on paper we would not make it.  I was persistent, and she loved me and trusted me to follow.  This was not easy for either of us, but it was our first real test of trust and of faith. 

Well we did give 10% every pay check that first year $900 per month.   We trusted God with our natural reality, and then God showed up in supernatural ways.  I cannot tell you how it happened, but we stayed in the black all year long.  It was a great lesson for our faith in God, but it was also a building block for our marriage in trusting in God in everything.  That first year was hard, but I would never trade that first year in learning to walk by faith. 

Over the years, we have been challenged in everyway including our finances.  During prosperous days and through days of challenge, we still give to God first.  I am glad that is decision, we do not need to revisit again and again.  It is settled, and it has brought us 19 years of financial freedom. 

Don’t be afraid to give to God!  You can trust him with your lives, and yes that includes your money.  Make giving a priority, and watch what God can do in your lives.