Success, Giving People Money, and Tithing to Trust and Honor God

Success, Giving People Money, 

and Tithing to Trust and Honor God

By Craig M. Szwed

It looks like it’s been a few years since I shared this reminder touching on true success and financial management. The Holy Spirit of Christ repeatedly reminds me that I, personally, need to revisit these truths from time to time,
a precious reminder. Most important of these considerations is that success is a word that is only used once in the Bible, and that is in Joshua 1:8:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Learning to love the success of which God speaks, loving to do things God’s way, is not natural to us, because we usually cater to our urges to establish our own ways, and to indulge our own pleasures, instead of heeding His invitations and warnings. But, when we are finally willing to let go of doing it all our own way, to finally turn to learn from the Best, Christ and God's Word are there to teach us by His Holy Spirit, if we just ask.

Many people in our culture are in dire financial circumstances, both rich and poor folks alike, because we usually go about to try to execute our financial plans in fleshly ways and without godly guidance. Money is often
a preoccupation for most of us, for one reason or another. Some of us agonize about it when people ask us for money, and yet many among us like to give gifts and help others. So, here's a relatively short, and hopefully trouble-saving, list concerning what God says about giving money to people. (This is different from tithing to God.) While Jesus said to give to everyone who asks of us, in need, He did not tell us to be foolish about how we do it. As you read the Bible, you can find passages and verses that illuminate these principles about how to temper and enlighten how we give.

1.     Take responsibility for YOUR own appropriate investigation of the alleged financial need. (Is helping this person financially truly a just, kind, and necessary thing to do?)

2.     NEVER loan personal money to anyone, and NEVER co-sign a loan. (Business and family finances need to be separate.)

3.     NEVER GIVE away more than you can afford to lose permanently. (Your reputation and family are at stake.)

4.     IF someone asks for help and you see a real need there, they seldom ask for as much as they need, so give them a GIFT of more than they need, but NOT more than you can afford. (You must know your own financial state and be disciplined, to be able to do this.)

5.     NEVER expect the GIFT to be returned or repaid. NEVER ask for it back.  NEVER remind the other person. Just let it go. (Gifts we seek to control are not offered in love or generosity.)

6.     Tell the recipient, that, as Jesus Christ has been good to you, it is your responsibility to share His blessings with others.

7.     As you privately give the GIFT to that other person, kindly tell her/him that instead of paying you back, it is now up to that person to do the same for someone else, when the need is revealed, even as God has used you to be His agent of giving. (If you're doing it for the right reason, you are not going to be interested in having your help blabbed all over the place.)

Using this model of responsible gifting, you should develop discretion about how to keep your real friends and be free of those who would undeservedly bleed you financially.

If you’re curious about tithing, it’s really about trusting God to provide for all your needs while giving back to Him 10% off the top of all our new income, returning that to God’s work, with thanks to Him. The tithe is mentioned repeatedly in both Old and New Testaments. It is an important tool to God, which He uses to teach us to trust Him. God’s great promise about tithing is in Malachi 3:10.

God bless you as you seek Him through His Word and His Christ!!!