Wholeness Wheel - Financial Well-Being

As a child, faith in God and the practice of that faith at church was part of my life. One of the ways we lived that out as a family was the constant trusting that “God would provide.” Part of trusting it came from my mother saying it repeatedly. We never had much, but at the time, I thought we went without just about everything: no Levi’s; no steak and potato dinners; a new car only once. But in retrospect, even though it wasn’t what I wanted, God always did provide: I always had pants to wear, tuna fish casserole wasn’t the best but I usually had seconds; and riding in the car was a whole lot better than walking. I grew up living below my means and giving God thanks. When I strayed from that after college, trying to be a big shot, I ended up in big trouble.

When my wife Sarah and I left seminary, we made a commitment to tithe to the congregation I began to serve. We figured it was a good time to start. We couldn’t spend money we did not have plus we knew it was the right approach. In fact, as Sarah has added income, we have tithed on that, either to my church or the churches she has served. We give thanks this way and we have been blessed beyond belief; wonderful calls, solid house and cars, and healthy family. We know we haven’t been blessed this way because we tithe; rather, we tithe because we have been blessed, giving thanks for what we have been given.

This concept is essential as we established our financial wellness. First, we began with a grateful heart. Only then did we have an orientation to God. Then, as a method, we have been strong believers in a “10/10/80 financial plan.” That is, we give 10%, we save 10%, and we live on the rest. This plan is one we have followed from the beginning of our marriage and I would commend it to everyone. These are some of the basics, but if you live these out, you will find that “God does provide.”

Pr. Tom Rogers, Redeemer, Woodstock

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