In Finances…

Money, it’s a necessity in life. We have to pay bills, buy food, pay for insurance, fill our cars with gas, shell out money for a “good” education, and so much more. We also want to have money for clothes, manicures, haircuts, vacations, donating, and so much more. Over the past couple of years my husband and I have been learning what it looks like to handle money God’s way, to be the ones to tell our money where to go, instead of it going places and then having no clue where it all went. I won’t say this has been an easy road, but it’s been one that’s more than worth it. 

In the Bible it clearly states to give God the first 10 percent of what we make. What we have is all because of who He is. Our things belong to Him. I know, I know - you’re probably thinking,  “but I’ve worked hard for this” or even “what could he possible do with my money?” This was where we were at right before we got married. It wasn’t a concept we could wrap our head around, but as we sat in church one day and listened to testimony after testimony from people who trusted God with their 90% we knew we had to go all in. 

Genesis 28:20-22 says, “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar; shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.’”

Until that day we fully trusted God in every other area of our lives. It was time to fully give ourselves to Him, and yes - that meant our finances, too. Over the course of the past few years we have seen God move in immeasurable ways within our finances. However, it didn’t happen over night and it also didn’t come easy. Our church was putting on a Financial Peace University course that our LifeGroup decided to dig into. This was where it all started. During this course we learned that we have the total capabilities to tell every dollar that we make where to go. Whether we put it toward the tithe or not, that was our choice. We were given a template to help us make a budget where every dollar would be allocated to a category. To this day we use the digital version of this template - which thankfully is an application on both our phones. Have we always followed our budget perfectly? No. Have we argued about money and where it should go? Yes. But, we’ve also seen God provide. He’s provided with raises. He’s provided us with our first home that was in a budget that we could afford. It’s not just a first home, but it checked off every “want” box that we checked. We’ve been able to give to charities that matter to us because He has shown us a way. 

It’s not only important to trust God with your finances, but it’s also important to have real conversation with your spouse about money. You will disagree with each other, but be willing to hear each other out and to compromise on things. There’s no perfect science on how to make it work. Be honest. Be open. Be willing to do the work and pray about it together. This is an area in life where the devil can take hold of your relationship, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

My whole point in writing this, isn’t to say that we’re perfect, but it’s to encourage you in your tithe. If you’re on the fence about giving Him that first 10%, I encourage you to take a leap of faith. Radiating Joy in finances is trusting Him to provide, but doing the work and knowing where your money is going. I know it’s scary, it was for us, too. I also know it’s worth it. I know you might mess up, because we do all the time - but I know that if you’re willing to try, I know you will look back in a few years and sit in awe of all that God did with the 90%. 

My challenge to you is to begin your tithe if it’s not something you already do and if it is something you do, give beyond your tithe to a charity or something that you feel God pulling you toward. 

xoxo, 

Rachel Marie