A Joyful Giver

I was very comfortable with my old job and the amount I would tithe and sometimes wouldn’t tithe, if I can be honest. There came a point in my career where I felt the need to leave my job due to the change in ownership. Instantly I found my job position for a better company that also offered a higher pay. 

As I began to work at this new job location, I learned how higher of a pay it actually was and I remember telling myself before I got the job that “I can't wait to give God more” and the checks started to become significantly bigger and I remember the feeling of regret after pressing ‘submit’ when turning in my tithes. One day I asked myself “why do I keep feeling regret after turning in my tithes after I’ve said ‘I can’t wait to give more to God?’”. With the price of everything going up from groceries, gas, starbucks, etc… I told myself that some of the money can definitely help in other areas in my life. But instantly I remembered the scripture found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 that says “ 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”[c] 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” So the challenge began…

I began to change my mindset of “why do I have to give so much?” to “I get to give so much!”, from that regret feeling to that joyful feeling knowing what I am able to give is helping the overall kingdom of God. As the paychecks came in, the more I kept reminding myself to smile and to not feel obligated to give and to feel privileged to give. As the weeks went by, I had one of the busiest 2 weeks that I ever had at this new job and I knew this paycheck was going to be good and good it was. I went to my EBP app to give my tithe and with no hesitation I gave the most I have ever given… ever. After I pressed submit I realized the feeling I felt, the feeling of no regret, the feeling of not thinking what else I can use this money for, the feeling of I can use this money at Disneyland, none of that. I genuinely had the feeling of “joy”, the feeling of knowing this is going to help my church, the feeling of knowing I am giving God more like I said I was going to be able to do.

How can I not give God more after he blessed me with a higher paying job almost instantly when I needed a new job? How can I not be joyful when I give now? How can I not be faithful to God when He continues to show His faithfulness in my life time after time again? I just have to.

If you are like me that you find yourself struggling to press ‘submit’ when giving your tithes or not giving your full tithe amount, I hope my story encourages you to challenge yourself to change your mentality from “why does it have to be so much?” to “God has been faithful to me and I will joyfully be faithful to Him”.