In his younger days, my husband was in a Christian rock band. They toured the USA and even played in Hong Kong.

Several years in, and twenty thousand dollars in debt, they got some wise advice. “Tithe,” said Selu, a business professor at a local Christian college. “Every client of mine has been freed from debt after a year of tithing.”

Selu had many wealthy clients. He owned lots of properties. But he wasn’t just smart and experienced, he was also wise. So they took his advice. As illogical as it seemed, by the end of the year, they were on his debt-free client list. What a relief it was!

Tithing, ironically, gives the giver freedom.

It frees them from being bossed by bills. There’s a joy to knowing that the time and effort spent working stretches farther than your own needs. It’s like growing extra hands.

Supporting a local widow, paying for VBS supplies, sending Bibles to prisoners or medicine to sick children, funding a water filtration system, or gifting goats or seed to poor farmers extends your efforts beyond yourself. Even on the slowest or most frustrating of work days, your efforts matter, your hands have given love and hope to someone, somewhere. In return, you not only feel blessed, you are!