Do you know the promise that God makes to those who give with a cheerful heart? As a follower of Jesus Christ and a child of God we are instructed in God's word to give of our finances with a cheerful heart.
NIV 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
When it comes to the subject of giving some people like to avoid God's word and teaching on giving. They come up with all kinds of excuses why they don't give, but the bottom line is they are robbing themselves of the blessing that God promises to a cheerful giver. It's really that simple. If you choose not to give to support the work of your local church or ministry that's up to you.
However, you will never see the abundant provision that God reserves for those who believe his word and freely choose to act on it. Take a look at verse 6.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
If you decide you want to sow sparingly you will receive the fruit of your labor. If you plant one seed don't expect God to multiply it back to you unless one seed is all you can honestly sow. That being said God will abundantly multiply the seed you sow.
Mark 12:41 - 44 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Scripture teaches that when we give we are honoring God.
Proverbs 3:9-10 9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Here once again we see the promise of God given to those who give. As we honor God with our first fruits he promises to fill us, to abundantly meet our needs. Jesus repeats this promise the book of Luke.
NLT Luke 6:38 If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving — large or small — it will be used to measure what is given back to you."
The promise of abundance for giving is repeated again to those who give.
1 Chronicles 29:8 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
When you give from a willing heart you will have great joy knowing your gift is pleasing to the Lord. In the Old Testament under the law the people were commanded to give 10 percent of their income. That's the meaning of the word tithe. It means 1/10.
Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
But long before the law was given to Moses people gave 10 percent of their income to the Lord. This was an ancient custom.
Genesis 14:18-20 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Abraham was long before the nation of Israel and the Law given to Moses and he gave one tenth to God's represented Melchizedek the priest of the most high God.
Genesis 28:20-22 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Here we have Abraham's grandson Jacob observing the same custom.
Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
God considered the tithe holy and Leviticus said it belonged to the LORD.
In Malachi chapter 3 God confronts his people for being selfish and withholding their tithes and offerings to him. He tells them that they have walked away from his word and had not kept it. He further states that they have robbed him and brought a curse not only upon themselves causing the entire nation to suffer.
Malachi 3:7-12 7Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Once again the promise of abundance is given if they would return to the word and start giving to God. You see you can never out give God. God said they would accomplish more with 90 % with God's blessing than you will with one hundred present without. Now having said that let me also say that we do not live in the Old Testament where the book Malachi was written and addressed the people of that day and time.
We live in a much better period of time called the age of grace. God has done so much more for us in Christ it stand to reason that we would not do less. We are not under the Old Testament law bound to give ten percent to the Lord. Some teach if you don't tithe God will curse you. This is a lie from the devil. This type of teaching only puts God's people in fear and bondage. Our God is a God of great love, compassion, and mercy. He does will not curse you if you don't tithe.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
The curse was done away with on the cross of Christ. That's not to imply that cruses don't exist today because they do. However God doesn't curse someone if they don't tithe. God wants you to give for the outreach of his word and the work of the ministry and you should. It all boils down to your trust in God's word.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
How far are you willing to trust God? Are you willing to trust God with all your heart in all things? Or do you trust God only so far?
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Some people give more to their political party then they give to God. Only goes to show in whom they trust. That's a sad truth but this is where the world has once again successfully infiltrated the church and has usurped that which is holy and belongs to God and has given it to men.
Matthew 22:21b Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Some people have it backwards. They render unto Caesar what is rightfully God's. They have forgotten that no matter what type of administration Democrat, Republican on any other it makes little difference because the truth is they are all corrupt.
Does that mean we don't vote? Heavens no we vote for the party that aligns themselves closes with biblical values. But both major parties Democratic and Republicans have evil senators, congressmen and politicians dug into their parties who support sinful behaviors like same sex marriage, abortion AKA murder, the woke, equity, diverse and the LTBQWXYZ movement etc, etc, etc. So if you claim to be a spiritual person don't come at me and tell me how great your party is.
Make sure you have your priority is right and anything other than Mat 6:33 disqualifies you from the claim of genuine godly spirituality.
The Bible teaches Jesus Christ will return one day and judge this sinful world for the evil it has committed. Then and only then will there be a righteous ruler in charge of the government of the world.
To be continued…