More important--paying off debt or alms giving?

[whatevergirl]

My husband and I currently sponsor a Phillipines girl…she is about 12 yrs old, we write to one another frequently…and we’d like to visit her someday, or when she is old enough, have her stay with us for the summer. My question is…I’d really like to sponsor another child. (through the same Catholic organization)

My husband actually became a little angry with me…and said, ‘We need to pay off the credit cards before taking on any additional child.’ We pay our debtors montly…we have about $3000 in credit card debt. Most of the time, we truly try to buy things in cash.

Sponsoring a child is $30 per month. We could easily take on another $30 I explained to him, and this also increases our tithing, which he wants to do. I guess I don’t fully understand his reaction…and can someone tell me if I should wait on this, and completely pay off the debt? Is paying off debt more important than alms giving? Your insight is appreciated.

 

[Smber2c]

I think this one is going to be total personal preference.

You do have to pay your debt. You also are morally obligated as a Catholic to be giving and helping others.

It sounds like your tithing is not some meager amount, like a doctor or lawer only putting 20 buck in the collection plate and calling it done; so assuming that’s true I don’t think you are obliged to give more. However, as you say the money is there, and this charity is providing for some mightly good things.

Still there is the counter argument of pay the debt now and sponser another child or ever 2 later.

As I opened, I think either is morally acceptable. I see them as being on an equal plane.

 

[whatevergirl]

I think this one is going to be total personal preference.

You do have to pay your debt. You also are morally obligated as a Catholic to be giving and helping others.

It sounds like your tithing is not some meager amount, like a doctor or lawer only putting 20 buck in the collection plate and calling it done; so assuming that’s true I don’t think you are obliged to give more. However, as you say the money is there, and this charity is providing for some mightly good things.

Still there is the counter argument of pay the debt now and sponser another child or ever 2 later.

As I opened, I think either is morally acceptable. I see them as being on an equal plane.

thank you for this…can u tell my husband this?

When I think of sponsoring these children…I don’t even see it as tithing, although it is…I see it as I really have loved helping this little girl. Her letters are heartbreaking, at times…but she is grateful to get a box of pens. I feel myself getting teary eyed now thinking about her letters…and her pictures. She’s so dear to me…and I have never met her. I told my husband that I’d like our goal to be helping 10 kids in another few years. He said…once the debt is done, we can sponsor 50. He loves this child too…He doesn’t want to hold us back, but he said that he doesn’t want to shun our responsibilities…and God wants us to pay our debts.

I, like you, think that it’s a personal thing…I just wondered when you weigh the two together…what the right thing to do would be?

 

[puzzleannie]

DD asked an almost identical question, since she has a child she has been sponsoring since high school and now with a family, baby on the way etc. they have debt. The solution she and her husband worked out is to take the money for the sponsorship out of other income that would be spent on something other than budget items and debt. The sponsorship is $24 a month, about the bill for a modest dinner for 2, so they eat in after the baby is asleep, out on the deck, instead and save that money for the sponsorship.

 

[whatevergirl]

DD asked an almost identical question, since she has a child she has been sponsoring since high school and now with a family, baby on the way etc. they have debt. The solution she and her husband worked out is to take the money for the sponsorship out of other income that would be spent on something other than budget items and debt. The sponsorship is $24 a month, about the bill for a modest dinner for 2, so they eat in after the baby is asleep, out on the deck, instead and save that money for the sponsorship.

That is a wonderful idea…I would ‘abstain’ from eating out for two dinners, to make up for this money…alhtough, we don’t forgo the dinners now…(we should) …my husband would feel better if we were saving in another way. He doesn’t like eating out all that much…he likes to save save save…he spends money on me and the kids, but when it comes to frivolous spending, he’s not one for that…so, this would be a way of showing him that I’m sticking to a saving type commitment…and also will continue to pay off the debt.

Puzzleannie to the rescue…thanks!!!