Investing God's Money

God has blessed me with the joy of giving. From the first days of our marriage, my wife, Helen, made sure that we tithed our income. We didn't make a lot in those days,but Helen felt strongly that we give a tenth back to the Lord and people in need. Ever since, we have always tithed. Tithing helps you to see material blessings as coming from the Lord and belonging to the Lord.

If you don't possess your money, your money won't possess you. Think of your money as the Lord's. He gives us the ability to work and earn money. Set your tithe aside first, as soon as the money comes in. If you don't claim it as your own, you won't miss it when you give it to God.

I've been asked by some about how I knew when I had arrived financially and could stop worrying about money. I really don't know how to answer that question. For some it's always a worry because they just don't make enough money and tithing seems impossible. In our case, the Lord blessed us so generously it is easy to give away at least a tenth of everything we earn.

Is that because we gave faithfully, or because God blessed us so much for other reasons, or is there no reason humanly speaking? I do know that we tithed from the very beginning, and we had the joy of giving. There's just something about setting your tithe aside before it's spent on something else that makes giving easy.

It's difficult to generalize because of all the various incomes in the world. All I know is that we tithe, and we recommend it because it makes giving easier and more joyful.

Giving is a duty and a joy inspired by our faith in God and directed by His word. I encourage you to follow the teachings of the apostle Paul, who wrote: "On the first day of every week, each one should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income. Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

If God gives you money, be a good steward so that in the end he will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Something miraculous happens when you tithe.

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Rich DeVos is vice-chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.