John D.
Rockefeller (one of the wealthiest man on earth) WAS ASKED “What is the SECRET
of WEALTH?” His answer: Oh it’s really
simple: SAVE 10% TITHE 10% and LIVE
on the REST ...
The
Habit of Giving
“On the first day of each week, set aside some of what you have earned
and give it as an offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped
you earn.” 1 Corinthians 16:2 (LB)
HOW
MY GIVING REVEALS MY SPIRITUAL MATURITY
“Just as you excel in everything else … in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness … see that you also excel in the grace of
giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7
·
GIVING Draws me Closer to God.
“Where your treasure
is, there your heart is also.” Matthew
6:21
·
GIVING IS THE ANTIDOTE TO Materialism
“Command
those who are rich in this present world not to be
arrogant nor to put 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 be generous and willing to share. In this way they may take hold of the
life that is truly Life!” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
·
GIVING
BLESSES ME Personally
“A generous
man himself will be blessed.” Proverbs
22:9
“A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Proverbs
11:25
G I V I N G
Your giving is a reflection of your priorities.
When
the things of God become your priority, your checkbook will prove it.
"So let each one give as
he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
3 REASONS why we have to GIVE BACK to GOD …
(1)
It is an ACT of GRATITUDE … it
reminds me that it all came from you anyway.
(2) It is an ACT of PRIORITY … Lord, I’m gonna prove it by obeying you.
(3) It is an ACT of FAITH …
the LORD has promised more BLESSINGS regarding GIVING than
ANYTHING
else recorded in the Bible.
Here’s what
the Bible says ...
"Honor the LORD by giving
him the first part of all your income and He will fill your barns … to OVERFLOW!”
Proverbs 3:8-10 (LB)
Question and Answer: Tithing & Financial Prosperity (borrowed Pastor J Hagee)
Q. I
thought tithing was an Old Testament principle. Is it something Christians are
supposed to
practice? Will it guarantee me financial prosperity?
A.
Giving to the Lord is an
important principle in both theOld and New Testaments, and obedience in tithing-which
is giving one-tenth of your income-is a good place to start. It is God who
gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), and He expects us to be
good stewards of the resources He has placed in our hands. Jesus did not do
away with tithing. On one occasion He lambasted the Pharisees and teachers of
the law for their legalistic methods of giving. They scrupulously tithed 10
percent of even tiny spices like mint and dill while neglecting "the more important
matters of the law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced
the latter," Jesus told them, "without neglecting the former"
(Matt. 23:23 NIV).
Money was an important part of Jesus'
teaching. Of the 38 parables recorded in Scripture, 16 of them deal with money
or possessions and how to manage them. The Lord advised us to invest our
"treasures" in God's work, "For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:21).
Investing in God's kingdom pays great
dividends! If we give sparingly, we will reap sparingly, the Bible says; but if
we sow generously, we will reap God's abundance (2 Cor. 9:6).
God's word promises that if we're
faithful to "bring all the tithes into the storehouse" [the church],
He will pour out a blessing we can scarcely contain. On the other hand, if we
don't tithe, we are robbing God. (see Malachi 3:8-10)
While God wants to prosper us,
true prosperity is not measured solely in dollars (pesos) and cents. God has promised
to meet all our needs (Philippians 4:19); He has not promised to fund all our
greeds.
I can’t afford to TITHE … THE TRUTH IS: You cannot afford NOT to
TITHE … You cannot afford not to be under the BLESSING of God … Do You Know when is the best time to begin TITHING?
ANSWER:
When you are in DEBT! God will help you get out of it. IT IS FAITH and
OBEDIENCE Factor.
WHY SHOULD I TITHE?
(6
REASONS FROM GOD’S WORD)
ü Because THE TITHE belongs to God — it is holy.
“A tenth of all your produce is the Lord’s, and it is holy.” Leviticus 27: 30
ü Because Jesus EXPECTS it.
“Yes, you should tithe, and you shouldn’t leave the more important
things undone either.”
Matthew 23:23 , T I T H E S , G
I V I N G
ü Tithing DEMONSTRATES that God has FIRST Place in your life.
“The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God in first
place in your life.”
Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB)
ü Tithing reminds me that EVERYTHING was given to me by God!
“Always remember that it is the Lord our God who gives you the
ability to produce wealth.”
Deuteronomy 8:18
ü Tithing is an ACT of RETURN, to do otherwise is to cheat God.
“God says ‘Will a man rob God?
Yet you are robbing me!’ But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ God says, ‘In tithes
and offerings … Bring your whole tithe to My house.’” Malachi 3:8-10
ü Tithing gives God a chance to prove HIMSELF as a Blesser!
“Bring your whole tithe to My
storehouse. Test me in this” says the Lord, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you won’t have room
enough for it! I will prevent pests from devouring your crops and the vines in
your fields will be protected from plagues.” Malachi 3:10
How to remember to honor God with your TITHES and Offerings
(1)
Keep a Ledger Book (2) Use
Weekly Giving Envelopes (3) Teach
your children to Tithe as soon as possible (4)
IF YOU HAVENT STARTED YET, try to go for the “90 Day Tithe Challenge”
P O S
A PRAYER of COMMITMENT
“Father,
I know you love me and want what’s best for me. I recognize that all I have, or
will ever have, comes from you. I am more interested in pleasing you than in
having more possessions. I want you to have first place in my life and I am
willing to begin tithing as you have commanded. Out of gratitude for all you’ve
done for me, and in expectation that you will continue to provide for me, I
commit myself to returning at least 10% of all I earn back to you. I want to begin
investing for eternity. Help me to remain faithful to this commitment. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.”
No comments:
Post a Comment