Though giving is listed as the 3rd simple step of Phase 3 in the JAM Program, Dana and I seem to always get challenged by God at each step. Looking back through our progress through our program, Dana and I felt led by God to do something extra (above and beyond our 10% tithe) with our giving at various times. Logically, it never made sense, but after our giving, we had a breakthrough to the next level of our finances.
I will never forget 2008 when we were out of debt and building our emergency savings. We felt called to give a large sum of our savings to the building fund for our church. Dana definitely has the gift of giving and was totally fine with being obedient, no questions asked. On the other hand, I wrestled with this for a while and tried to crunch the numbers in my head on how this was going to work out. I will never forget in my plea to God. I said, “Just give us some more time. I want to be a generous giver. I want to be the one that makes a $50,000 donation when we have $200,000.00 invested.” It immediately occurred to me that God was calling us to give 25% of our savings, precisely the same percentage as $50,000/$200,000. It was then when God prompted me with Luke 16:10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
It didn’t take long after we gave that amount for us to get caught up and well past where we were when we gave above and beyond our tithe. Is God calling to take a step of faith with your giving? Be obedient, and you will get that breakthrough that you are looking for.
