Big Think

Question: Why do you pay a reverse tithe?

Warren: Well tithe just means 10 percent. God asks us to give back 10 percent of what we make just to show that we know that all of our blessings come from Him, and to help us not be so selfish and self-centered. So Rick and I have decided – as affluence has come our way through the sale of . . . of his book “Purpose Driven Life” – that we don’t want . . . I mean how many pairs of shoes can you have before it starts feeling a little hollow? I mean how many little electronic gadgets can you own before you start going, “Isn’t there something more than this? Isn’t there . . . Isn’t there any more to life than collecting gadgets, or shoes, or purses, or events?” We just find money and spending it on ourselves to be a very hollow way to live. It’s much more gratifying – it’s much more fulfilling – to know that money that we have is used to make a difference in the lives of other people. I’d much rather do that. It’s . . . it’s just a much better . . . it’s a much more fulfilling way to live.

Recorded on: 12/11/07