Part #1 - what to do with extra cash!

Today begins a blog series on what to do with extra cash!  As a homemaker operating a family budget that is partially based on commission sales, it's important for us to maximize the extra cash we get throughout the year.  My husband and I have a general list of what we do with extra cash.  It's helped us pay off some debt and keep up with our growing family! With the exception of today's post, these ideas are not listed in any particular order. 

First things first - TITHE!!!!

Tithing is giving 10% of your income to God.  Most tithers give their 10% to their home church - that's what we do, although I think giving your tithe to any ministry that's Bible preaching, Christ-uplifting fits the bill.  This is a starting point for giving - anything beyond the tithe is thus an offering.  Since we have a home church, our tithe goes to our home church.  If we have extra beyond our tenth to give, we look for specific project within our church, a missionary team, or even an outside ministry (like a radio station or program, etc) to give to. 

From personal experience, I can tell you that tithing can be a hard habit to start and maintain, especially if your on a tight budget living paycheck-to-paycheck.  That being said - I can also testify that it is totally worth it.  I have never regretted my tithe, even when it meant a bill was paid late.  Tithing is a discipline.  It's a way to demonstrate your faithfulness to God and your faith in God.  It's a way of saying that you're thankful for all God has given you and that you trusting in Him for supplying your  future needs.  I'm not telling you that if you don't tithe you're not a Christian or anything like that.  Or that there aren't other ways of demonstrating faith to God.  But I am saying that this one way. 

Some food for thought:

• Genesis 14:18-20 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
  “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
  Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High,
  who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
  
• Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
• Matthew 6:25-33
  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  ... So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

• 2 Corinthians 9:7
  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Again, please hear my heart on this - I'm not trying to sound condemning or overly Pharisaical - I'm not one for operating my faith under the law - "for the law made nothing perfect" (see Hebrews 7:19).  I think it's very important for us as humans to "put our money where our mouth is" so to speak.  Putting our money where our hearts are and storing up treasures in heaven is SO IMPORTANT.  It reminds us to keep God in all aspects of our lives - which is exactly where He wants to be.  God wants to POUR out so much blessing we cannot contain it!  I would rather have His blessing, whatever that is, than money - wouldn't you?

 

Stayed tuned for Part #2 of What To Do With Extra Cash - Funny Money!