Bring It All

Jesus told us to store up our treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:20). He said these were the only treasures that would last. Things like salvation, gentleness and kindness, reaching out to others, and truly being an example of Christ through love and service are just some of the ways we can store up heavenly treasures. It’s not just the “stuff” treasures represent, it’s the lives we lead to a transforming knowledge of Jesus that truly represent those priceless gifts that Jesus has waiting for us.

Along with that, Jesus said that where we keep our treasure is where we keep our heart. (Matthew 6:21)  Take a look at your checkbook. If it’s anything like mine, it is full of online bill payments and grocery store charges. But the first thing I do each pay period is tithe. Tithing is a commandment in the Word of God. Tithe translates to “tenth,” so we are to give the first tenth of everything God blesses us with back-and according to the Word, it belongs to the LOCAL CHURCH (not a televangelist). [Side note: If you give to a ministry other then your local church or if you give extra, that is considered an offering.] God says, “Not only will I let you keep the 90% left over, I will bless it for you. All you have to do is return the first 10%.” In Malachi, He even goes on to say that we can test Him in the tithe. If you realize that the money you have is not yours, but merely a loan from God, you can begin to understand the principle of the tithe. Sometimes, it is hard to write a tithe check. AHH-TRUST me, I know. I am tempted to think of all the extra stuff I could buy or the bills I could get caught up on if I just had that extra ten percent  But I have tested the Lord, and He has made good on that promise more times than I can count. I have been somewhat hesitant to share this story, since it is so fresh, but I really feel like the Lord will encourage somebody if I share, so here goes:

On the fourth of July, we were broke. Jer received a short check that pay period and were it not for some money he found (God revealed) in a parking lot, we would not have been able to pay our bills. But we paid our tithe FIRST! After Jer got up that morning, he sold some items we didn’t need so he could have some money for gas that next week. We heard that a frozen yogurt chain was offering a discount on scoops, so we thought we would take a few dollars and treat ourselves to some fro-yo. Before we could make it to the store, one of his tires blew. It was done for; no amount of air would fill this tire. We pulled into a parking lot and decided we would walk home. In the parking lot, just feet away from where we parked, Jeremy found a tire that would fit his car. The rim was dented which was fine because he had just gotten a new rim. But the tire was perfect. We threw the tire in the car, locked it up, and started walking. The next day, Jer found a shop that mounted the tire FOR FREE! We had no extra money for a tire, so God gave us one. We didn’t have money to get it mounted, so He sent someone to do it for free. We didn’t have money to pay our bills, so He gave us extra. Three miracles in one paycheck; I’d say you can trust the Lord!!!

Too many people have hard hearts when it comes to tithing. I know people who church hop because they’re looking for a church that doesn’t talk about money. Jesus had a great deal to say about our finances, more than half of His parables were on money. SO I suspect that money is an important tool in the kingdom. Some people think that their 10% will not matter, but I offer you this: it may not seem like much to you, BUT GOD can stretch it. He can make it go further and last longer than you can!!

This is not exactly what I was going to write about today, but God took me in this direction for a reason. I hope it blesses someone and offers clarity and insight to those of you who may be skeptical of the tithe. I can honestly tell you that my husband and I could not survive if it were not for the principle of the tithe.

Love and shalom to you all!

Prayer:

Gracious Lord,

Thank You for being Jehovah Jirah, our Provider. Lord, please give me wisdom and supernatural knowledge when it comes to my finances. I thank You that Your Word tells me that I can both test You and trust You with my tithe! You are an amazing God and I can always stand on Your promises.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture References:

2 Chronicles 31:6 (NKJV)            

 And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

Deuteronomy 14:22 (NKJV)            

You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.

Nehemiah 13:12 (NKJV)            

Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse.

Genesis 14:20 (NKJV)            

And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him a tithe of all.

Malachi 3:8 (NKJV)            

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings.

Nehemiah 10:37 (NKJV)           

  …to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities.

Proverbs 3:9 (NKJV)            

 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

Luke 6:38 (NKJV)            

 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

Proverbs 11:24 (NKJV)           

  There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)          

   Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:11 (NKJV) 
        

    And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, Says the Lord of hosts;

Love LIFE (LoveIsForEver):

I used to go to church with an older couple that had been married for decades. They always seemed like perpetual teenagers, forever in love. When she would walk into the room, his eyes would light up. She had the same starry-eyes for him. I have to honestly admit that my marriage is not perfect, so I seek after wisdom from older couples when I have questions or concerns. One day I asked “Mrs. Joy” for the secret to their deeply devoted love. Her response was simple, but something I feel like my generation has somehow missed: “We love and respect each other, and we never stop being intimate with each other.” I love that simple principles outlined in the Word are always the answer for such question. I know I’ve said it before, but our marriages are the representation of Christ love for the church.