“GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.” —2 CORINTHIANS 9:7
One issue offends people and becomes an excuse to stay away from church more than just about anything. Money.
Let me say without reservation: God does not need your money! His love, the work of His Spirit, and the existence of His church do not depend on our money. Don’t believe anyone who tells you they do.
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills! “The world is Mine and all its fullness,” He said (Psalm 50:10-12).
Part of our spiritual growth depends on our ability to be grateful and to freely give. It is freeing to learn to manage money wisely and, in the process, give liberally. God set the example by giving us everything freely.
He gives us life, light, love, warmth, food, and best of all, eternal life!
Everything that is good.
Giving is in God’s nature, and becomes part of ours when we follow Him.
The guidelines in Scripture tell us to tithe ten percent of our income back to the Lord. Why?
God commands it. “A tenth of the produce of the land… is the Lord’s, and is holy” (Leviticus 27:30).
Jesus commends it. Jesus encouraged giving, but with this warning: “Woe upon you, Pharisees and you religious leaders—hypocrites! For you tithe down to the last mint leaf in your garden, but ignore the important things—justice and mercy and faith…don’t leave the more important things undone” (Matthew 23:23, LB).
When you let go of fear and worry, you are exercising your faith by trusting the Lord with your life, including your finances. “The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:23, LB).
Everything was given to me by God. “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV).
Tithing expresses gratitude. “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” the Psalmist asked (Psalm 116:12). You can’t. But you can demonstrate gratefulness with your generosity.
Refusing to tithe is like robbing God. “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But, you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse, your whole nation, because you are robbing me” (Malachi 3:8-9, NIV).
The other side of this is what God wants to do for us when we do tithe:
Tithing allows God to bless you! “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test Me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10, NIV). This is the only time in the Bible that God says, “test Me.” He desires to pour out blessings in abundance!
Finally, God never wants us to give grudgingly or fearfully.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
Pray and ask Him for a heart that desires to give and to bless others. He promises to bless you!
