Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. - Malachi 3:8
What are your thoughts when you hear the preacher talk about tithing? Do you think "Oh no, not again!" or "Amen - God is good!" I listened to the preacher talk about tithing just the other day. I have written before that my approach to sermons is that I say in my heart as Samuel did - "Speak Lord, your servant is listening." The role of the preacher is to speak what God has laid on his heart. My role is to listen for what God has to say to me through the preacher.
Well this time what the Spirit said was "Tithing is not about your money, it's about you heart." We would all agree that God does not need our money. We are actually stewards of His money. The act of tithing is an act of faith and devotion.
Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. - Matthew 22:37-38
If our full devotion is to God and dependence is on God - his provision - Jehovah Jireh - God the Provider - then giving back a portion of what He has given us should not be an issue. Tithing is a test of our hearts. Do we love God fully or do we have another love or worse, other loves competing for our devotion?
The love of money is the root of all evil - 1 Timothy 6:10
The reaction we have at the thought of tithing, if it is anything but joyful obedience, is rooted in our old sin nature. I am not saying that we cannot be guilted into giving money - but we might as well have kept the money in our bank account. A saying that coined some years ago is "You can make me do it, but you can't make me like it!"
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Why does God love a cheerful giver? Because the gift was birthed out of their love for God. Do you remember the story about the widow's mite?
And He [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had. - Luke 21:1-4
Tithing is not an earthly investment. The wrong idea that the more money you give, the more you get back. It is actually a statement about your love for God and trust in God.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions. - Proverbs 3:5-9
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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