The Christian life is one of sacrifice in its very nature. Our entire religion is based on the sacrifice that Christ himself made. Throughout the New Testament we are urged to sacrifice; sacrifice our selfish desires for Godly desires, sacrifice our evil pleasures for holy pleasures, and yes sometimes even to sacrifice our money.

There are folks who would say, “God doesn’t need my money, so I’ll just keep it for myself.” True, God Himself does not need money, but money is and always has been a magnifying glass that can reveal an individual’s heart pretty quick. Money in the hands of an evil man can empower that man to do greater evil. While money in the hands of a good man can empower that man to do greater good. Money does not cause people to be good or bad it is just one way that their goodness or badness is revealed to the rest of the world.

This is why Jesus told the rich young ruler in Mark 10 to go sell everything he owned and give it to the poor. Not only would this help the poor, but also reveal what was really in the young man’s heart. The young man chose to keep his money rather than help the poor and follow Christ. The money was just a peep hole into his soul.

When you feel the internal push to make a financial sacrifice the first emotion that wells up in you is an indicator of what state your heart is in. Here are a few areas in which we are most commonly asked to sacrifice financially.

Tithing

The tithe may be an Old Testament idea but the logic never grows old. Even if God does not need money, a church must have money to operate. When you are a member or attendant of a church, you are benefiting from that church each time you visit. You get spiritual help from the pastor who needs to be financially compensated for his time and efforts. You are being warmed or cooled by the heating and air system which must be paid for monthly. You are reading your bible because of the electricity which must also be paid for. You use the facilities which also cost money. The church is there to be a blessing to the congregation, and the congregation has an obligation to contribute financially so that the church can continue to be a blessing to the community.

Personal Giving

There is no systematic rules for personal giving like there might be for tithing. Personal giving is just that, personal. The key to personal giving is to be tuned in spiritually to the needs of those around you. We all know what it feels like to be nudged into action internally. When you feel that nudge, your own personal desires should be put on hold for the good of the one in need.

If you feel as if you never have money available to help others, sit down and do a really honest evaluation of your spending. If you find you have more going out than coming in, you may want to speak with an advisor about Christian debt relief programs that can help you improve your financial situation so you can give more.

As you look through your budget, try to find one thing you or your family do that is unnecessary. It could be monthly movie rentals, or office coffee runs. Saving up that money, even for just one month can be contributed to a worthy cause. Start a change can for a missionary, cash it out monthly then send the gift with a letter of encouragement. Even these small acts of sacrifice are pillars of Christian money management and make a difference and feed your spirit.

Personal Finances

There is a good amount of sacrifice that must go into reinventing your finances. A household drowning in debt and stress does not glorify God. A budget so strapped with debt payments that tithing and personal giving goes out the window does not glorify God. In order to turn that situation around an individual must buckle down and sacrifice some of the loose spending habits, feelings of entitlement and sometimes even a few possessions in order to accomplish this goal.

When we take the time to conduct a true and honest evaluation of our spending we will often find that we have a greater capacity for giving than we may have thought. If you find room in your budget for giving but have a difficult time actually giving the money away, spend some time in prayer to find out why. It may be insecurity, it may be greed, or it may be something else. No matter the reason, it is an opportunity for spiritual growth.