[LuxLiving]

I think some of the people who struggle with this issue (myself included) are those of us who have a natural affinity for finances or numbers (I'm an accounting major) or we have feelings of insecurity, and it becomes a hobby. Like any hobby it can get out of hand. You could decide to devote a number of hours a week to tithe your hobby to help those who are barely scraping by - teaching them how to balance a checkbook, start a savings account, make a budget.

You could decide to devote those same hours to doing something entirely different with your time that you feel God would have you do. Such as tithing a minimum of 4 hours a month at a homeless shelter, or building a ramp for a disabled person, or sewing blankets for preemies. Or, wherever your other interests lay.

I think we can get too focused on finances and forget to keep our lives in balance. Another way of looking at it might be to limit the number of hours a day or week or month you will spend doing financial things.

I do believe we are to look after our finances. Stewardship is a major theme in the Scriptures. We have, not to care only for ourselves, but we have, and manage in order to be able to help others.

On the feelings of insecurity, what does Scripture say? He doesn't want us to live in a spirit of fear. I think being accountable for our finances and staying on top of it, while understanding where our supply comes from works to eliminate that fear.