Where we put our finances, is where we have put our hearts. Whatever we invest our hard earned finances into, we invest our very selves, our hearts. Howard Dayton compiled a topical overview of 2,350 verses from the Bible which comment on handling money and possessions! Money is said to be the most talked about subject in the Bible. But why would the Bible talk so
much about finances? Because “Money is the answer for everything.” Ecclesiastes 10:19
When you have a lot of money, it can make life easier. Money is not the key to happiness, as we know the only way to be truly happy is to have a relationship with God, by seeking Him with all our heart (Psalm 119:1-2)! However, one study by CNBC said that money is the number one cause of stress in relationships. Correction, the lack of money is the number one because of stress in relationships. When finances are tight, so are peoples emotions. People can be edgy, short, harsh, rash, and do things they never thought, all over the possession of money. Money itself is not the problem, the love of money is!
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10
Having money and loving money are two separate things. You can be extremely rich and not love money; you can be extremely poor and love money. Greed is not measured by your bank account, but by your heart and what you put first in your life. Money can be the answer for everything, but the love of money is the ruin of everyone.
Money itself is not evil; it’s what you do with it that makes it good or bad. You can fund a mission team or fund pornography. Money can be used to build the Church, and sadly is a reason for people to fall away; People who are full of greed. Whether you have a lot of money, or very little, when one follows the scriptures on how to use it, things will go well with them.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Being generous is a command of God. The truth is you cannot live without being willing to give! There are so many incredible promises God gives us when we are generous with the finances He provides us. Whether it is by hard work or fundraising, let us consider the following passages before making a commitment to God on what you want to give each week in contribution or during Special Missions:
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24
“Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” Proverbs 28:27
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:10-12
As we can see, God has commanded us to give but also gives us great promises when we do. We can never out give God. If we give generously, He will make sure we reap generously. When we give, he will give us more, so that we can be even more generous. God challenges us to test Him. Naturally, we think of Deuteronomy 6:16 that says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test,” which is true in every area except our giving!
The promise is clear when we give to God not just 10% of all our gross income, but sacrificially, He will open the floodgates and pour out blessings in our lives and take care of our crops! The word “blessing” in Malachi is not the same as in Psalm 119:1-2 (meaning superlatively happy). The word is Bĕrakah in Hebrew and can mean: a blessing, prosperity, a gift, or a present. The last time God opened the floodgates of Heaven water flooded the whole earth. Now He promises that He will open these same floodgates, not pouring out H20 but gifts and presents. Who wants every day to be like Christmas morning? Who wants to test God in their giving?
With such great promises, why wouldn’t we give beyond 10% of our gross income, generously and sacrificially? The reason we are unwilling is a lack of faith! Look at what Jesus has to tell us about giving to God. It actually is the difference between worshiping God and worshiping money!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:24-34
The promise is simple, to put God first when it comes to our lives and our finances, and to believe that when we do, He will uphold his promise to give us everything we need! Let us believe Jesus at his word, test God in the area of giving, and watch the floodgates of Heaven open!
Love,
Coltin L Rohn