First is in a sense,

Invisible Money. 

This is money that you have, but you don’t have it to spend as you would like.  Think about the $5 your mom gave you when you went on a field trip in elementary school:

“Now, David, don’t lose this money or spend it.  Take it to school and give it to your teacher.  Understand?” 

For a brief time, that money was in my possession, but it was not mine to spend as I wished.  It was designated for a purpose.  Ultimately I received the benefit of the trip, but when I handed the money to my teacher, I lost control of it.

Ten percent of a Christian’s money (income) should be invisible money.  It’s in your possession for a while before you turn it back over to the Lord.  It’s God’s tithe:  it’s the tenth of all that He fives us—and it belongs to Him anyway

Next is

Pocket Money. 

We usually think of pocket money as the change, the coins, we carry in our pocket or purse.  It doesn’t usually add up to a lot of money, and it’s money we are comfortable giving on a moment’s notice—like the one-time gift the Philippians sent to the apostle Paul (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22-23; Malachi 3:10; Luke 11:42).).

There ought to be this category of money we five above and beyond our tithe, money that we feel free to give generously and willingly whenever a need arises.  Perhaps a collection is being taken up to help meet the needs of a Sunday-school class member, or a love offering is being collected for a visiting missionary.  Or perhaps a neighborhood child comes to your door selling candy or wrapping paper to help her school.  This pocket money—and the amount will vary for each of us—is money that we’re free to say, “Sure, I’d be glad to help” when someone is in need.

Third is

Wallet Money. 

I’m referring to a wallet because that’s where we keep bill…folding money…the presidential paper.  This is a bit more serious money than pocket money; it takes a deeper commitment to spend wallet money than pocket money.

In my mind, this is the kind of money the Corinthians set aside at the first of every week to prepare for the collection Paul was taking for the needs of the church in Jerusalem (1Corinthians 16:1-4).  It was a long-term commitment, not an impulsive gift.  Wallet money is probably a sacrificial gift, one that requires you to choose to give up one thing in order to accomplish another.

The next category is

Check Money

This is money that we don’t carry around with us but which we spend by writing a check.  This is giving that costs at a higher level altogether.

Maybe, for instance, you pray about making a two-year commitment to support a missionary every month—a decision that represents several thousands of dollars.  Or you hear about a widow in your church whose furnace has just broken down in the middle of winter and must be replaced.  You and a friend decide the Lord wants you to meet her need.  The gift won’t be tax-deductible; it will mean putting off a repair on your own house—and there will be no public praise involved.  But you give beyond what you would ordinarily give for the sake of someone who is in need—just as the Macedonians did when they learned that their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem were suffering (2 Corinthian 8:1-7)

Finally, there’s

Serious Money.

  That’s not to say that the previous four categories aren’t serious.  All money belongs to God, so all of it is serious.  But when you give serious money, you are saying, “Lord, it all belongs to You.  As a slave of Jesus Christ, I acknowledge that all I have comes from You and is Yours to spend.  Feel free to ask for any or all that I have, and I will obey.”

David gave serious money when he emptied his personal treasury to build the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 29:1-20).  And Paul left behind serious money, along with everything else in his world, when he made knowing Christ the sole goal of his life (Philippians 3:7-14).  For the individuals who have given their life to Christ, Paul says, giving up earthly things to gain heavenly things is a sign of maturity (verse 150>

The world we live in says that full pockets are a sign of intelligence, diligence, and prosperity.  But in the kingdom of God, it’s empty pockets that are praise.  Jesus never praised the rich for having full pockets after giving, but He did praise a poor widow whose pockets were empty after she gave her last two pennies (Luke 21:1-4).

David Jeremiah, Signs of Life, p. 177