You honor the
LORD when your monthly budget recognizes you will first give to the Church (the
local representation of Jesus Christ’s body on earth) the proportion of
income scripture instructs. Laws require most employers to automatically take
income, FICA, and Medicare tax from employees’ gross pay and forward it to
federal, state, and local governments. The fact that you cannot actually give
to the LORD first is not dishonoring to Him in this situation because you
cannot change this government mandated process. He wants your heart to be
aligned with giving first of the after-tax income in your control. Spending
first on desires when you have not proportionately given shows you do not trust
Him to care for all your need while you follow His instructions.
That house,
car, or other material desire is not more important than following His
commands. Let your heart be transformed in the area of managing income and
giving so you can say like the psalmist, “Obeying your every word is my
necessary food!” When you follow scriptural instructions God will take care of
all your need and many times way beyond that even though the picture may look
grim at the moment.
The
scriptures about Abraham, Jacob, faithful Israelites as well as Jesus
instructions in Matthew 23:23 and the example in Hebrews 7:8 show your tithe
given to Jesus’ (through Church leaders who truly serve Him and His aims)
is received by Him in Heaven. It is the starting point for determining
faithfulness managing income to glorify Him. He also desires that you give
free-will offerings to help the gospel reach unbelievers and lead them to Him
and away from the path of destruction. The organism and mechanism He
established to carry out that mission is His organized Church lead by elders
who equip believers and administer all the physical aspects needed to make it
happen (meeting places, tools, classes, volunteers, paid staff, instruction to
deacons and volunteers, etc.).
Giving ten
percent (the tithe) and an offering do not keep people from having their
needs met, living an abundant life, or building wealth. Most often, lack of
good financial stewardship (planning / budgeting income and expenses,
eliminating debt, and failure to save and invest) causes them to dwell in
poverty or a few paychecks away from it. With faith in the Living God,
ninety-percent of your income less an offering and required taxes is more than
enough to live on and build wealth throughout life.
Being a
faithful giver may require you to sacrifice some pleasures and reduce the
amount you're currently paying creditors in order to tithe and give offerings
to God. However, in due time, He will supernaturally bless your finances and
rebuke the devourer for your sake. You will obtain money needed to pay all
creditors what you owe them, stay out of debt, and live in abundance well into
the future. Wholly put your trust in Him and not in what you think is best
based on your limited view of the situation, surroundings, and future. You will
be blessed and rewarded beyond measure for doing so!
Please pray for this ministry, email me with any
questions, and contact me to speak at your business or ministry conference or
workshop. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!
Genesis
14:20-24, Malachi 3:8-12, Mark 4:22-25, Luke 6:38, Acts 20:35
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