My God has directly touched my life many times, performing miracles that have saved me and then directed my life. I am ready to be judged.
I do not love money. One of my strengths is that I am a good steward of money. If you do not understand the difference I cannot help you.
DW and I agree that we must give in good times and bad times. We use that God-given ability to give to our Church, charities, and families in need in our community, with no regard to the IRS and tax-deductibility. Many times we have taken people, poor in possessions and broken in spirit into our home. Sometimes for months, and sometimes for years. We work with them and there is great reward in seeing them return to a place in the community.
I will not discuss amounts or percentages with you. Read Matthew 6:1-4. God knows the depth of our finances, and I am comfortable with that.
What is your Spiritual walk like?
Sometimes I feel closer to God, but at other times I struggle. When I submit to Him completely, I feel closer. Sometimes the circumstances force me to the latter.
I do not know you well, in fact I have never met you. But I will say that my deduction from our brief conversation is that you do, indeed, have a problem with idolatry - - and that is your wealth.
You can argue that you a good steward and you tithe, but any person that I have ever met who argues those things has had a super glue grip on what is "theirs" and casts off to God His 10% and wants the conversation to end, here and now.
The original parable of the good steward was much more about character and living the Christian life that it was about your Stock Portfolio, cash in the bank, bonds, size of your house, possessions, gold, and all the rest.
From your posts to me, I sense that you yearn to be known as intelligent and successful.
You are most likely both, as this world judges.
But remember, He judges in a different way. We both would be wise to be on our guard about the way we are living. Because the Son of Man will come like a thief in the night.