Originally Posted by
fatelk
I've met a fair number of people over the years who have attributed their financial success to the fact that they've their full 10%, often with a fair amount of self-righteousness. I guess I should attribute the fact that I've struggled over the years in providing for my family to not tithing... oh wait, we did, faithfully for 15 years through thick and thin, even going above that when I was unemployed, for a building project that ended badly.
I have a coworker who struggled when he was younger but has worked hard and saved and is now quite financially comfortable. I guess he can attribute his success to tithing. Actually not, because he's a God-hating agnostic who doesn't give money away.
I don't say those things to knock giving or faith. I have no doubt of God's provision and blessing. We've struggled over the years but have never gone without our basic needs. We still give, because it's right, not because we think God's going to make us rich. I just think that sometimes we get a simplistic idea of how things work based on some cherry picked verses.
Personally I think giving of one's time is actually more valuable, more of a sacrifice. That's where I fall down; I'm a bit selfish with my time. I've seen some retired people give tremendously with their time, and I respect that a lot.