I've been thinking about the idea of putting Jesus first but I'm reluctant to give a substantial offering... at the moment I might give 1% at the very most. I am struggling financially and my wife helps support me. I try to minimize my expenses. Is it possible to be saved while only giving about 1% or less? I guess you can only serve one master.
As far as I can understand, you are turning this problem
totally upside down.
a) Yes, it’s possible to be a Christian and not give a single cent: The law of thitering had it’s end (Norwegian reading: it’s FINAL end) at Calvary, exactly like anything else “given by Moses”: Read Hebrews - carefully.
b) No, it’s not possible to come reluctant to Christ. When becoming a Christian, ANYTHING in one’s life belongs to God, one’s bank account(s) and wallet(s) included. One thus need to put it all for God and ask: “T thou knowest about my finacial struggles, thou know about my wife, about her heart and her possibilites, thou knowest about mine/our frigh for the facto running into bankcrupcy by wrong use of mine/our money and thou knowest about anything else. What doest THOU want me do at present.” Then one do like prescribet into 1 Corinthinas 16: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,
as God hath prospered him,” Being reluctant to handle this way will close the door as, God don’t ask about a part you to be his, but ALL of you. Read Mark 10,21-22 again: “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” The problem was NOT his great possessions - Jesus LOVED him. The problem was his unvillingness to give Jesus
everything what belonged to Him. Result: He could have been one of Christ's diciples and apostles, today we don't even know his name.
As youself mention, it’s only possible to serve ONE master, and are you not prepared to give him EVERYTHING in your life to him for HIS consideraton, you don’t
have a master - and isn't Jesus your master, your Christianity is void and nothing.
Thus, JohnClay, put this issue - as everything else - down for Him while praying over the case, reading your Bible and requesting mature Christians abolut specific advice Then do from what you
into His presence conclude about this case , be it no single cent or a lot more than 1 %. .