Don't worry, I'm not posting a request for your money! :) I just need your advice...please! This may show my sad, failing faith in our ever faithful and gracious Lord, and I'm aware that I'm putting my ugly self out there for you to know and judge.
Having said that, here's the problem: if you've been reading this blog then you know we're in a desperate financial situation. And if you know us personally then you know we've been here more times than I feel like talking about, so you also know that we have NO savings to pull from. Here's the cool part...God has provided just enough money to pay the 3 things that HAVE to be paid this week and still buy milk and bread (don't worry, all my parents out there, I have enough groceries around here to adequately feed your children next week!!). If I pay those three things and buy just milk and bread, the money for the week is completely gone.
Notice what wasn't in the list? Yep, tithe. Soooo, there's my question. What would you do? Tithe and trust God will provide from some unexpected place in the coming week? Or thank Him whole-heartedly for providing for our needs, pay the bills, and see what happens next week.
By the way, I don't think I posted about it, but Steve did get a job. He started this week. It's a warehouse, lousy pay job, but it's a job.
Anyway, please be honest and leave us your thoughts. Thanks!!
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13 comments:
What I think is right and what I would do in this situation may be different. I'd like to think they'd be the same, but honestly, I don't know.
I think that the right thing to do is to tithe what God asks us to tithe as it's not ours but His anyways and then trust Him to take care of your needs. That's what His word says.
I have known lots of people who have done this and God has always been faithful to provide, often in unexpected ways.
That said, I honestly don't know that I'd be strong enough. I hate to even admit it.
I'll keep you & your family in prayer!
I am faced with this dilemma quite frequently--like RIGHT NOW!! I know what God's word says on this--but I also know that there have been times where the choice is feed the kids or give to church---well I have chose to FEED my children!!! Ask God what he wants you to do and HE will give you the peace you are looking for!!
I am sure that most would disagree with me by the way--so maybe I am one who just doesn't have enough faith!!!! LOVE Ya
Well, I either have 2 readers this weekend, or nobody else is brave enough to comment! So thanks, Andie and Christy, for your response and for your prayers. I'll post next week about how the decision pans out.
What did you decide??
Christy
We did it, and we commit to keep doing it. (Obviously this isn't the first time we've made this commitment, and here we are making it again...so we'll see. But our hearts are sincere in keeping it!)
I am proud of you guys!!
For my late 2-cents....Rick and I are terrible tithers at this time....meaning we really aren't tithing at all...so I don't know that my advice would have been any good anyway.
What I believe is exactly what Andie said....but then, I have to ask myself, do I really believe? If so, why don't we tithe? Because we're totally goober disobedient sinners....that's why!
I'm absolutely no help at all! But then you already made a decision, so I don't have to worry how my rambling will affect you.....right?
I'm figuring you tithed. If so, I am very proud of you, as well. And I will be praying this week for you guys. And I will bring over some PB&J if you need me to.....seriously. You just let me know.
Thanks guys!
Jeanne, you're hilarious! I know exactly where you are though, and it's right where we usually land ourselves. I do have to say that it feels pretty amazing to stand up and say "Yes, I really believe!" I am in awe and overflowing with gratitude that He has given us the faith to do it this time!
I think we'll be okay, and I'll be sure to keep posting about our financial situation since I put it all out there already anyway! So keep an eye out to hear about His awesome provision!!
And, Jeanne, I'm gonna let you know if we need that PB&J! :)
By the way, I am also so, so thankful for honest and supportive friends!
This is my last comment about this--It is so refreshing to hear people being so honest about this. I have really been struggling lately with "plastic people"--that is why I really debated about putting my first comment out there. I couldn't tell you to do something that I personally at this time haven't been doing--which is completely having faith in God with our money!!! Your family has inspired me!!
Kristie-
I didn't read your blog until today, but I wanted to leave my coment even though you already made you decision.
I agree with everyone else. I believe that you should continue to tithe and trust God to meet your needs.Unfortunatley, though, I haven't always followed that advice. It is so hard do that.God has provided for us in those kinds of times, yet it is still so hard to do.
I think you did the right thing and I can't wait to see how He provides for you all!
Ashley
Welllllll, I am WAAAAAY late, I haven't read or posted on anyone's blog until today, for almost two weeks. I know that you know how much Steve and I have struggled financially over the last 3 years. But, it is also the only time we have been faithful to give our tithe, all of it, consistently. It has been HARD to stick with it. But I just can't not do it since I know what His word says about it. God has met EVERY need we've had, in the most unexpected ways ~ through a friend, anonymously, through a second job, etc. It is amazing how He will provide for us when we are faithful to trust. I'm not saying it has been easy to do cause there were MANY days, while on the way to church, I would turn to Steve and say something like, You know there really isn't enough money in the account to cover the check if they deposit it early in the week. Do you think I should write it?" We always come up with the same answer, "yes". These last 3 years are also the first time in our married life when we haven't overdrawn our account and had to pay additional fees. So, even though it hasn't been an easy 3 years financially, it has been awesome to see how God works.
So, I am so proud of you that you decided to tithe. I KNOW God will bless you for your obedience.
You are awesome and thanks for being so real. I love real friends and am blessed to have you as one of them. Christy ~ I am with you ~ I don't want people in my life who are fake. I want friends who are gonna tell me when I am sinning and who are gonna love me and pray me through it.
Let me begin by saying that I am totally lurking on your site....having followed a link from my sister's own blog (Ashley) and part of me thinks that you must be thinking, "mind your own business" but the Lord is telling me that I must share with you.
In a nutshell, it is His to start with and He'll get it from you one way or another.
My husband and I, approximately 8 years ago were in a similar struggle with ourselves. We had been very 'back and forth' in our tithing efforts and God was working on us in a big way. We received our income tax refund one week (I don't remember the exact amount but I'm going to say that the refund was $2000) and very selfishly decided that we didn't really need to tithe on it because it was not technically "income". Though neither of us felt totally right about this, we justified it and moved on. Lo and behold, that very next week, the A/C unit went out. Imagine my surprise when the technician handed me a bill for, you guessed it, $200.00 which was EXACTLY 10% of the refund that we'd so selfishly kept to ourselves. To top that, the technician's card, on the back side, had the saying, "If you meet me and forget about me, you have lost NOTHING but if you meet Jesus and forget about Him, you have lost EVERYTHING". That card took up permanent residence on our fridge for quite some time as a reminder.
I say all of this to say, obviously, that I am not only a believer but an example of how you can not outgive Him. It is now my mission in life to try, though, because as you bless others (through your tithe and other giving), it will be returned to you. He WILL provide for your needs.
I am praying for your family,
kelleywms@hotmail.com
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