“Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole and blameless heart they had offered freely to the LORD. King David also rejoiced greatly.” 1 Chronicles 29:9 AMP

Coming off the celebration of new life, we must ask ourselves the question, “Now what?” We are taking a journey to build our faith and learning how to pray the promises of God’s Word. We are also learning that many of the promises of God’s Word require an action on our part. Most of the time it is to stop sinning and pursues righteousness. Throughout the Word of God we are challenged to change our behavior and follow Him. Today I want to talk about the area of giving. 

Looking at all the areas of our lives, it seems that the issue of money trumps them all! There are many thoughts about surrendering our financial resources into the Kingdom of God’s work but there is only one standard by which we should abide…the Word of God! If we truly believe that we were buried with Christ in our baptism (signifying our death), and then raised again in new life, that means that which we possess is not ours but His!  Dead people do not have a claim on anything! Many tend to measure themselves by that which they possess or have in the bank. Jesus likened that to building your house on the sand! When the rain falls, and the wind blows it is easily overcome. Everything that you have can be gone in a second and there is nothing you can do to stop it! Look at the verse today, “The people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they offered freely to the Lord!” What a beautiful picture of how it is supposed to be. No arguments over tithing being an Old Testament practice or if 10% is on the net or gross income! AS far as I can determine in the Word, 100% belongs to Him and we are simply stewards, managers or His resource! I tis interesting to know that there is only one place in the Word of God where God tells us to challenge His about His Word! 

““Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld]. 9You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! 10Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. 11Then I will rebuke the devourer (insects, plague) for your sake and he will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field drop its grapes [before harvest],” says the LORD of hosts.”

Malachi 3:8-11 AMP

Do you see it? They were reaping the results of withholding from God what was His! I often council people who are in financial crisis. There seems to be one common thread; the answer to the question “are you tithing?” is no! The reason is always I can’t afford to! My response is always the same, you can’t afford not to! Tithing is not about the amount but the response to an act of obedience. The Scripture says that if we are faithful with the small things then He will increase the harvest with greater things. I cannot recount all of the times we were in financial difficulty and stepped up and not only tithe but planted seed into the amount we believed God would increase us! Remember this verse?

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” 

Matthew 10:7-8 AMP

That my friends mean EVERYTHING! As you are faithful with the small amount God will increase you to greater amounts! It’s easy to tithe on $1.00, or $100 even $1000, but what will happen if God blesses you with $10,000? The secret to tithing is given by the Jesus Himself,

““Be [very] careful not to do your [a]good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven. 2“So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. 3But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], 4so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-3 AMP

Our Power Prayer for Promise – Generosity

Today Lord I commit to be a cheerful giver, not under compulsion but from a thankful heart (2 Corinthians 9:7) and I will rejoice with a whole and blameless heart. (1 Chronicles 29:9) I will not allow the enemy to steal my blessing of obedience by withhold that which belongs to You and I will receive in due time the open floodgates of Your provision. (Malachi 3:10) I choose to give freely so that You can prosper me that poverty will not come by house, and I will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:24-25) I commit to support the weak, give of my means as you lead to the poor, and remember in all things that it is more blessed to give than receive. (Acts 20:35) In Jesus name…Amen!