I have worked in the health care industry for more than half of my life. From doctors to nurses to ancillary personnel high consumption is the norm. To live on less than one makes as abnormal. Several years ago, we made a conscious decision to be abnormal. I recently wrote about our journey through the seven baby-steps as laid out in Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover. I wrote both about our successes and our struggles. Today, living in baby-step seven, we find ourselves in a much different place than we were just a few years ago, much-less, when we began that journey.
“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.” (Proverbs 13:7, NASB)
Often, in the media, and among the populace, there is a misunderstanding about wealth and income. A high income does not mean wealth. Income usually defines level of consumption rather than wealth. Income is what you bring home but wealth is what you have. If you spend everything that you bring home, you have no wealth. Many, as was the case with us, before 2006, are spending more than they make. To build wealth requires living on much-less than you make. Not only does building wealth require living on much-less than you make, but you also cannot give if you spend everything that you bring home.
Under the Mosaic Law, a tithe was to be handed over to the Levites and priest for their service in the temple. (Num. 18:21, 24) A second tithe was for an annual feast, the gathering of all of God’s people, eaten together, with your family in the presence of the Lord. (Dt. 14:22-27) A third tithe, every three years, instead of using the money for self and family, they were to deposit it in the town for the poor. (Dt. 14: 28,29)
The principle is threefold: Give to those who are working for the Lord, celebrate with family and friends, and give to help the poor.
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 2:7, NKJV)
In Luke 6:45, Jesus taught his disciples about the heart, saying that from a good heart comes forth good, and from a bad heart comes forth bad. A person can handover funds grudgingly or by command (taxes), but this is not giving. Giving is purposefully and cheerfully turning over the ownership or management of personal assets to another person to use as they see fit.
