When you’re a Christian, your budget should take into account tithing as well as generous giving. After budgeting for your bills and other needs, you can learn how to save your excess income so you can give beyond your tithe. This can present a great struggle between spending on your “wants” versus generous giving to others. Is it okay to do fun things for ourselves, or do we always need to live on a meager budget and give the excess to help others? Is there a way to live a lifestyle that is fun for us while still having room to give generously to the needy? In this post, Randy Alcorn describes how he lives with that tension and how he has found a way to increase his standard of giving.
GP RE - How Do I Know How Much to Give and How Much to Save
Acts 4:34
Jesus, there is so much need in the world. How do I decide what to give and to whom? Guide me and direct me as I answer Your call to give generously to the needy.
Am I tithing? And do I have a plan to save money to help the needy?
If you aren’t tithing, then that is the first place you need to begin with your new budget. Set aside 10% of your income for God. Next, plan for ways you can save or cut back so you can start generously giving when God calls.
It’s always better to err on the side of giving. Learn how to moderate your lifestyle so you can increase your level of giving instead of increasing your standard of living whenever you get a raise. This way, you can overcome the tension of not having enough to be generous when God calls you to give. Having room in your budget to be generous takes self-discipline, and the next post will challenge you in this area.
