How To Be Rich DevotionalSample

Percentage Not Dollars

Back in Jesus' day, the offering plate wasn't passed. It sat in the same place and people walked up and dropped in their coins where everyone could see. Jesus was watching as person after person came up to make his offering. There were rich people who put in larger donations and poor people who put in what they could.

As Jesus looked on, an elderly widow hobbled up to the offering plate and produced two small copper coins. It was almost embarrassing how insignificant her donation was, especially compared to all of the successful, prosperous people who came before her. Jesus' comments on the scene are recorded in the gospel of Mark:

"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on." (Mark 12:43-44)

If you've heard this story before, it's easy to miss what it says about percentage giving. At first glance, the message is warm and uplifting because Jesus is showing favor to someone with whom we sympathize. It could be your grandma. It makes us feel good to see Jesus, God's Son, giving a shout-out to the little people.

The emotional takeaway of this story is that Jesus is kind toward little old ladies. But the passage contains a powerful principle about giving too. And it's this: The percentage matters more than the sum. The money principle doesn't give us warm fuzzies like the part about little old ladies does. But it's just as significant.

So what percentage should you give? I tell people to start with 10 percent because the Bible writers have a lot to say about the tithe, which means "tenth". For some people, that's extremely uncomfortable. But so is a colonoscopy, and those save countless lives. It just depends on how badly you want to protect yourself from the side effects of wealth. Remember, it's not just a way to be "good." It's a preventative. The most important thing is to start somewhere.