Quite a few years ago when our daughters were in elementary school, our family was sitting at the Sunday dinner table. We were eating late because I had stayed longer than usual at church to talk to a person who needed help. She was crying.

My daughters had noticed she was crying and — naturally — wondered why. So they asked. I declined to answer, but Erin (the younger one at eight years old) kept asking. So finally, I decided to teach her an important lesson and made this proposal: "I will tell you, if you are willing to help."

My proposal took her by surprise, and worried her at the same time. At first she thought I was joking. I assured her that she could help and that I would divulge the woman's problem if she would promise to help.

Erin thought.

Sensing that she was beginning to feel the responsibility of true concern for another person's problem, I prodded, "Well … should I tell you?"

Finally she responded, "Not if it has anything to do with money!"
What an amazing response! At such an early age, Erin had already developed an adult-like sixth sense with the ability to perceive that caring for this woman might involve money. And she was right!

Our adult ability to detect and avoid God's claims upon the use of our money is uncanny. We can channel surf past those cable TV broadcasts of starving children quicker than we can chomp one corn chip. Our mental processes, which help us justify self-indulgent lifestyles and meager generosity, approach the level of genius. And if only NFL running backs could sidestep with the agility we demonstrate when, reading through Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we come across verses like: "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back" (Luke 6:35).

Simply put, God's people have within their grasp all the resources necessary to dry the tears of much of the world's population. But our hearts say, "Not if it has anything to do with money!"

We especially have the means to ensure that there are no needy persons among our brothers and sisters in Christ, and thus fulfill both our scriptural obligation and the law of love. But our hearts say, "Not if it has anything to do with money!"

Those who have experienced financial setbacks due to unfortunate circumstances or foolish spending could be set free and given a fresh start. This is God's way, according to the Old Testament jubilee principle. Yet while our lips affirm our readiness to come to the aid of fellow believers, our hearts say, "Not if it has anything to do with money!"

There is no better time of year than Christmas — the most spendingful time of the year — to face facts and adjust our giving patterns. First, the facts.

Fact: Statistically most "born-again" Christians are giving 3 percent of their income or less. Three percent! That's pocket change compared to what we spend on pets, movie rentals, snack food, recreation, mascara and hobbies. Only 12 percent of evangelical Christians give a full tithe — 10 percent.

Fact: The vicious cycle of the underfunded ministry underachieving its mission due to understaffed programs could be broken worldwide if God's people began tithing.

Fact: The 10-percent tithe was never intended as a goal for Christian stewardship, but as the starting point.

Here's an adjustment plan worth considering at Christmastime.
Adopt the graduated tithe principle. Prayerfully determine what standard of living God is giving you permission to live. Calculate the basic income needed for this standard of living and create a budget that includes a 10-percent tithe.

Let's say your family needs $30,000 to meet that budget, including a $3,000 tithe. If your net income is $40,000 after taxes, tithe 10 percent of the first $30,000 and 15 percent of the additional $10,000. Increase your tithe by 5 percent on each additional $10,000 you earn. If your family income is $60,000 and you follow this graduated tithe, you will wind up tithing $9,000 (15 percent of your total income) and still have $21,000 beyond your basic budget requirements.

With careful planning and disciplined living, you'll be on your way to even higher percentages of giving. That's exciting!

Help someone else get out of debt. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty of our sin for us. It's called "substitutionary debt payment." Nothing could be truer to the spirit of the cross of Jesus Christ than to help pay someone else's financial debt. About 15 years ago Margie and I began to practice this ministry. It is one of the most enjoyable things we do with our money.

These proposals may sound radical to our American ears. But in the conscience-deadening environment of such extreme wealth, only radical measures will ensure true obedience —especially if it has anything to do with money.