Debt-Free by 31: 3 Biblical Keys That Made It HappenSample

DAY 2: The Counterintuitive Power of Giving

This one might sound counterintuitive if you're focused on paying off debt, but stay with me.

While most people stop giving when paying off debt, we actually gave MORE.

Now, we didn't do this to try to manipulate God into blessing us (how small would our God be if that actually worked?).

We did it out of simple obedience and gratitude. But that act of faith opened the floodgates of God's blessing on our efforts in ways we never could have engineered ourselves.

There's something powerful that happens when we honor God first with our finances.

Proverbs 3 promises that when we honor the Lord with our wealth and with the firstfruits of all our income, our barns will be filled to overflowing.

This isn't an 80’s televangelist’s message to "give just to get.”

It's much deeper than that. When we put God first with our finances, He often brings clarity, wisdom, and unexpected provision that accelerates our financial journey.

For us, giving more actually helped us become more intentional with every other dollar. It increased our dependency on God's provision rather than our own limited resources.

And most importantly, it kept money in its proper place of being a tool rather than becoming our master.

This principle of giving first flies in the face of conventional financial wisdom. The world says, "save yourself first," but God's economy operates differently. He invites us to put Him first and trust Him with the rest.

Today's Challenge: Take an honest look at your giving. Has fear caused you to hold back? What would it look like to increase your giving by 1-2% of your income, even while working toward financial goals? Ask God if He's calling you to a step of faith in this area.

When God invites or challenges you to grow in generosity, always say yes. You will never regret it. The path to financial freedom isn't just about smart money management; it's about trusting God's promises and principles even when they seem to defy conventional wisdom.

Let's pray: Father, thank You for being my provider. Help me to trust You more with my finances, especially when it comes to giving. Show me if there are areas where fear is holding me back from the blessing of generosity. I want to honor You first with my money, knowing that You care about every detail of my financial life.

In Jesus' name, Amen.