A world famous evangelist and a man who owns many Christian television stations flew up from their home in middle Florida in a private helicopter to Honey Lake to see me this weekend. The evangelist wanted to meet me and learn more about the Jesus Alliance. He was a charismatic, fascinating personality and God surely has His hand on him and without question has found favor in God’s eyes giving him a worldwide following.
We were talking about the need for funding in the Jesus Alliance and he told me of a conversation that he had with a very wealthy man in which his mega wealthy friend had told him that he could not tithe because he made too much money.
Huh?
Apparently this tycoon’s financial advisors told him that taking a tithe off the top of such a large sum of money would be ridiculous, so he scaled it back. My new evangelist friend promptly told him that he would pray that his income be reduced to a level whereby they would be comfortable and he could tithe and not sin. The rich man who did not want such a powerful man of God praying that his income would be reduced pleaded with him not to pray that prayer.
This reminds me of the parable about the three men who were each given money. After a period of time the master returned and wanted to see an accounting of what they had done with the money. Two had invested it and grown the amount and one had buried it and made nothing. The master took away all of the money from the one who had buried it, and gave it to the others because he did not invest it.
The Bible is clear that we cannot serve two masters, God and money (mammon). The love of money is the root of all evil. Far too many people devote their lives to the pursuit of money and what it can buy. The problem is that no material thing can bring you happiness or last. We live 80-100 years and then eternity. The money and possessions get left behind.
What will you take with you when your time comes to depart this world? I submit that we only take two things: The good and the bad that we have done in this life. At judgment believers will see the bad covered in the blood of Jesus not to be remembered any more, and they will be rewarded for the good. Unlike the money, boats, jewels, swimming pools, and material possessions of this world, the rewards for obeying Gods commands including giving will live on forever untarnished and shining brightly.
Incomes will vary, but the minimum percentage that God has instructed us to give back is the same; ten per cent for our tithe and over and above that as we have been blessed and feel led for giving additional gifts. The Bible is clear that giving is rewarded by God.
Remember the parable recounted above. The master gave more to those who invested wisely. Jesus was talking about investing what He has entrusted to you into His Kingdom. He gave us everything we own and if we are wise, we will invest a large portion of it in His Kingdom.
Luke 12:19
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
April 18, 2016 – Click here to listen