Why Tithing is Not Enough

I've been hearing a lot of stories of my friends and acquaintances about their financial suffering while living in UAE. One time, I learned from a friend that he is faithfully tithing but still in a financial mess. How can that be? God is more than willing to bless us with all our needs. He is a faithful God. I wonder why he is in this financial bondage.

One realization is that, aside from the 10% we give back to God, the 90% left is equally important in dealing with our financial stability. Yes, we are giving our tithes faithfully, but are we faithful enough to properly manage the 90%? God is not concern how much we give, but it is attitude of our hearts that God cares.

As a rule of thumb, Income - Savings = Expenses, and not the other way around. If God sees that we are managing our 90% properly, living within our means, He is more than happy and willing to bless us with more things. In purchasing things, always take time to think if we really need it. If it's just a want, then wait for a little while to have the sufficient fund to buy that want. Always stick to your budget.

I would like to share with you how our income are divided accordingly.

1. Tithes: We believe that tithes belong to God. We give beyond the 10%, and the 2% is our offering.
2. Savings: This includes our emergency fund and baby fund.
3. Life Insurance/Investments: We availed the VUL type of insurance wherein portion of our premium is invested, thus, accumulates cash. We started investing in the Philippine stock market. We both have accounts for our baby's college fund. When we complete our emergency fund, the succeeding savings will be invested in our start-up business and in the mutual fund as well.
4. Assistance to our families: We believe that giving financial assistance to both our parents is a way of giving or paying back all their sacrifices. Honor your parents, as the Bible says.
5. House Rent/Grocery, etc: Living expenses in Abu Dhabi is very high. I have my 'blue notebook" wherein I write down all our expenses, day in and day out. It includes our monthly dinner out.
6. Fun Fund: We both have fun fund where we spend for our personal wants. I usually buy clothes and my husband is fond of gadgets. So whatever we do to our fun fund, it's up to us.

So that's how and where our combined income go. I hope you learn from this simple article.

God loves to teach us even in the smallest part of our life. That's why He has given us His Word (The Bible) for us to learn and grow. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 is a very good example on how we have to manage everything that God has entrusted to us.

25:29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

To God be the glory.