Thanks, Lost! I think this sets harmful expectations as well. The saying should be "make sure all of your needs are provided for and then give!"

Dear Kit,

I think that message is aimed at people who have extra money to go on fancy vacations to Europe but then claim they can only give the minimum 10%. I do not think that message is aimed at you, specifically. It might help to talk to your pastor about this?

As a single woman nearing 50, and someone who has the privilege of having a substantial amount in retirement accounts, I must say that single women... and married women for that matter!!!... really need to look out for their financial health in retirement. Nobody else will be there to support us. This is something I worry about often.

I urge you to consider the whole picture of your financial health, not just how you are doing this month or this year.

Kit, can you maybe think about what a just and loving God would want for you? He would not want you to neglect saving for the future and risk ending up depending on government aid when you're older...just so you can give extra money to charity today.

If you're giving extra by not buying Starbucks but making coffee at home instead, that is "giving til it hurts." Or giving up cable TV and reading books instead is "giving until it hurts." But neglecting your financial health... which it sounds like you are doing... is not okay and IMHO is not what God would want for us.

Just some things to think about.

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