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The 10/10/80 principle pays God 10 percent, pays us 10 percent and pays 80 percent to our other obligations. Yet instant gratification gets in the way and causes us to rob God and rob ourselves. When we don’t pay ourselves we turn to credit which can spiral out of control as we live beyond our means. We are programmed to want instant gratification through advertisements on TV, radio, websites, mobile phone apps, magazines, and the TV shows we watch.
Everything is quick, fast, and gives us QUICKLY what we THINK we are looking for, but it’s a lie. The best steak is one marinated overnight. The strongest leanest person has made small decisions and used discipline every day for years. The most beautiful marriage has been a work in progress for 40 years. The karate kid learned his moves by painting a fence and sanding a deck. We need to rethink the “I want it NOW” mindset. The REAL benefits come from the long term.
Pay God. 90% With God’s Blessing Goes Further Than 100% That’s Cursed
We have a habit of paying bills, paying ourselves and if anything is left over, we drop a few dollars in the bucket for God. The tithe or 1/10th of our increase is our action to show God that we are in agreement with Him that everything we have is His in the first place. We are obedient and honor Him when we give the full tithe. There are over 2000 verses in the bible about money and possessions. Out of 38 parables, Jesus told 16 on the topic of money. Maybe we should pay attention. They say when the teacher repeats something it’s going to be on the test. Maybe God knows we need to learn how to handle money and that having a right relationship with money will bless us.
Pay Ourselves. We Need To Make A Budget And Don’t Budge From It
If we make a budget and plan on paying ourselves, then we realistically know what kind of lifestyle we can afford. This approach helps us to better determine what we can afford, such as how much house, how much car, what type of entertainment and what is available to bless others. When we rob ourselves of paying into a savings account, that’s how we turn to the credit trap. God wants us to have an abundance and he wants others to benefit from our overflow. We don’t have overflow if we live beyond our means.
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? Luke 16:11
We Sow Our Way Out Of Debt, We Don’t Save Our Way Out Of Debt
Money is called currency because it’s supposed to flow. If God can get it through you, He will get it to you. So often we have no money to live because it is being extracted by Visa and MasterCard as interest. Some people have money, for others money has them. God views money as a tool. It is neutral. It just magnifies what is already inside of us. Listen to God when He nudges you to give. He knows the needs of others before we do and He knows how giving will bless us. This is how we sow our way out of debt.
JOIN ME in committing to delayed gratification, embracing contentment in the here and now and obeying God’s small whisper in our heart as He guides us on this journey to being debt-free.
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Books about tithing and the storehouse (as mentioned below):
The Blessed Life by Robert Morris
The Storehouse Principle by Al Jandl and Van Crouch
These books are eye opening to principles of giving and receiving God’s way that are life changing.
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Bible Verses On The Tithe And Giving:
1. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” Malachi 3:8
2. [Jacob said]…“I will surely give a tenth to You.” Genesis 28:22
3. “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.” Deuteronomy 14:22
4. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and first fruits then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
5. “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse…[see] if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Malachai 3:10
6. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
7. “…whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly…” (2 Corinthians 9:6)
8. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)
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