Giving to God

How we spend our money is a challenge. Firstly is the challenge of living within our means, making sure we have enough money to pay the bills and provide for our family’s needs. Being a responsible steward of our money is not always easy. We may also encounter the challenge of giving to charities or needy causes. These are great and many. There are foundations for just about everything and all of them want you to give a donation. Today alone I received three different phone calls from three different charities wanting donations. We also face the challenge of saving our money. Then there is also the matter of God and giving to Him. How do we fit it all in?

The Bible, contrary to what people may think, has a lot to say about money and good financial management. As with everything in the kingdom of God, how we think about money is different to the way the world would and and how we handle it is different to the way the world would. The world says something like – “the money I earn is mine and I have the right to spend it how I like”. God says something like – “what you have I have given to you, so it belongs to Me”. That’s really different isn’t is! But God goes further and tells us that, as we give, so we will receive! That is an amazing divine kingdom principle. It is not something we do, but something God blesses us with. Understanding with kingdom principles that what we have belongs to God, we see that our first responsibility with our money is to give back to God. In the book of Malachi Chapter 3, God tells us we should give the first portion of our income as a tithe. To do otherwise Malachi describes as cheating God.

The reason I am talking about this today is because I wanted to tell you how God moved in this area of my life recently as I obeyed His leading. I was at church and I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to increase the amount I was giving to Him. I argued about it with God in my head because I didn't have the spare money to do it. But when I went home I made the step of faith to change my giving as He had told me. I did what today’s verse says - I gave. Then God, who is always faithful, did His part. He gave back to me. Within a few months He provided an amazing job for me. It was so awesome. I had no idea that was going to happen when I changed my giving. But when we do things God’s ways and with a heart of obedience the blessings truly do flow – ‘A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.’

So think about it today. How is your giving going? Are you cheating God? Are there changes you need to make out of obedience to Him? If there are, make them and don’t look back. Give generously. As you give by faith, He will provide for you what you need and bless you with a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for helping me understand that everything I have is Yours and that giving to You is something I must do. But thank You further that You don’t just make this requirement of me, but You then give back to me, what I need. This is amazing and I am so grateful for Your generosity. Help me to apply the kingdom principles of financial management that You have given in Your Word in my life. May I bless You, Your Church and many people as I give. I pray that You will give me surprise after surprise as You provide for me. I bless Your name, Amen.