I understand the point of your article, and you offer some astute observations. Grappling with this topic reveals our world view, and mine is one of faith. As such, my belief is we own nothing but are stewards of what we have been entrusted. As citizens of the United States and countries of Western Europe, we are among the wealthiest people in the history of the world. I think that with that blessing comes responsibility. Scripture also reminds us that to whom much is given, much will be required. Financial expert Ron Blue identifies four basic uses of money: live, give, owe, and grow—five if you separate “owe” into debt and taxes. Most people naturally prioritize them this way: live first, then owe, grow, and finally give.
Over the years, I’ve found that inverting that order not only aligns with biblical stewardship but also leads to greater peace and purpose: 1. Give – Honor God and bless others with your first fruits.
2. Grow – Build steadily and wisely.
3. Owe – Manage and minimize debt and taxes.
4. Live – Let your lifestyle fit what remains and enjoy your blessings. While the New Testament doesn’t specify an amount to share, I think John Ortberg put it well when it comes to our giving: “The tithe is a wonderful floor—but a terrible ceiling.” As we are blessed with more, our generosity should grow right alongside it. From my personal experience, I have found that I simply cannot outgive God. His shovel is larger than mine.
I read where time is like money--we can spend it, waste it, hoard it, or invest it. Thank you, Jonathan, for investing time in your readers with weekly doses of wisdom about life and money. Further, thank you for creating HD and allowing it to serve as a funnel to share your years of experience and wisdom. I'm confident your investment of time will produce dividends in the lives of many for years to come. May God bless you!
Mytime, out of respect for the boundaries Jonathan has set with HD, I will refrain from further comments beyond this response, acknowledging that this matter is non-financial. It seems my previous comment touched on a sensitive area, and I sincerely apologize if it caused any offense. My intention was simply to express that many people share their faith out of genuine love and concern for others. I also recognize the delicate balance between caring for people and respecting personal boundaries. Thank you for your understanding.
Kim, you raise an interesting point. I can't speak to the motives of politicians, but regarding "religious people," noted and outspoken atheist Penn Jillette offers an astute observation about people who don't share their faith. He states, "I've always said that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward... How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"
Comments
I understand the point of your article, and you offer some astute observations. Grappling with this topic reveals our world view, and mine is one of faith. As such, my belief is we own nothing but are stewards of what we have been entrusted. As citizens of the United States and countries of Western Europe, we are among the wealthiest people in the history of the world. I think that with that blessing comes responsibility. Scripture also reminds us that to whom much is given, much will be required. Financial expert Ron Blue identifies four basic uses of money: live, give, owe, and grow—five if you separate “owe” into debt and taxes. Most people naturally prioritize them this way: live first, then owe, grow, and finally give. Over the years, I’ve found that inverting that order not only aligns with biblical stewardship but also leads to greater peace and purpose: 1. Give – Honor God and bless others with your first fruits. 2. Grow – Build steadily and wisely. 3. Owe – Manage and minimize debt and taxes. 4. Live – Let your lifestyle fit what remains and enjoy your blessings. While the New Testament doesn’t specify an amount to share, I think John Ortberg put it well when it comes to our giving: “The tithe is a wonderful floor—but a terrible ceiling.” As we are blessed with more, our generosity should grow right alongside it. From my personal experience, I have found that I simply cannot outgive God. His shovel is larger than mine.
Post: Tithing is a mistake … for some people.
Link to comment from October 21, 2025
I read where time is like money--we can spend it, waste it, hoard it, or invest it. Thank you, Jonathan, for investing time in your readers with weekly doses of wisdom about life and money. Further, thank you for creating HD and allowing it to serve as a funnel to share your years of experience and wisdom. I'm confident your investment of time will produce dividends in the lives of many for years to come. May God bless you!
Post: Four Thoughts
Link to comment from March 1, 2025
Mytime, out of respect for the boundaries Jonathan has set with HD, I will refrain from further comments beyond this response, acknowledging that this matter is non-financial. It seems my previous comment touched on a sensitive area, and I sincerely apologize if it caused any offense. My intention was simply to express that many people share their faith out of genuine love and concern for others. I also recognize the delicate balance between caring for people and respecting personal boundaries. Thank you for your understanding.
Post: What Wisdom Can You Share?
Link to comment from February 24, 2025
Kim, you raise an interesting point. I can't speak to the motives of politicians, but regarding "religious people," noted and outspoken atheist Penn Jillette offers an astute observation about people who don't share their faith. He states, "I've always said that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward... How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"
Post: What Wisdom Can You Share?
Link to comment from February 21, 2025