A thought on tithing

[deacon blues]

Who are these wealthy preachers I keep hearing about? Let's see, until three months ago my wife was driving a 1999 GMC Yukon, paid for, but high mileage and getting to the place where maintenance was getting expensive. We traded it in for 2010 Honda Civic. I drive a 2001 Nissan Altima with 200K+ miles. We live in a church parsonage. We have a son in the Air Force, a middle school daughter, an elementary aged son. We take a couple of vacations a year, usually to see relatives, once in a while maybe to Florida or tourist attraction. Always done on the cheap. I haven't bought a new suit in about 5 years. I've got a little retirement IRA going that isn't doing so hot right now b/c of economy. My wife works.

I know there are some high roller preachers out there, but for every one that exists there are 50 that live more like we do. And some pastors that look like they are wealthy early on in ministry sacrificed and did without and lived in the church and didn't have a lot and now after 30 or 40 years they are being blessed for their faithfulness and service to people. Sometimes preachers are wise with their money and they've made smart investments and have saved wisely. Stop judging preachers and what they have and believe that God sees those who are embezzling and abusing the church funds and those that are legit.