Giving

Many people have a problem with giving money to the church. The Lord REQUIRES us to do just that with a tithe of 10% of our income. According to the Bible this money belongs to the Lord and not to us. Some folks do not look at it like that. They look at it as if that hard-earned money belongs to them and they have a hard time giving it away. Read the Bible for direction; you are not giving it away. The Lord blessed us with what we make and He requires us is to give back a small portion, 10%, to help support His church. It is not an option. So-o-o-o when we refuse to give a tithe, we disobey God. When we disobey God, bad things happen. When we obey God good things happen.



In addition to the tithe, we are instructed to also give over and above our tithe as we are led and capable of giving. Some like me have been excessively blessed with material possessions. It is a responsibility to use it to further God’s work. Basically the Bible tells us that if it is within our power to help someone, then we are not to withhold good and we need to do it.



There is no better feeling than being in harmony with the Lord. God also promises to reward us handsomely if we obey this command of giving. You cannot out-give the Lord. Everything I have ever given to the Lord, I got back ten fold or more. When you think about it, He really does not need your hard-earned money or mine as He owns all of creation. What He wants is your obedience and mine and He wants us to honor Him with the thing that is most dear to most people’s hearts, their money. There will come a time when we advance from this life into the next and we will be stripped of every material possession and we will face the Lord and give an accounting of our lives. Prepare for that day now. If you have not been giving back to the Lord His portion, then by all means start. The Bible promises that you will be blessed. Trust in the Lord and His holy word and have faith that He will do just that, and faithfully obey this command. Do not do it grudgingly, but give cheerfully. The Bible teaches that God “loves” a cheerful giver. Thank God that he has given us a good job and income to provide us the opportunity to help finance His ministry.



Proverbs 3:9

Honor the Lord with your

possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all

your increase;

So your barns will be filled

with plenty,

And your vats will overflow

With new wine.



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