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Bag Full of Holes
Malachi 3:8-11 "Will a man rob God? Yet you are
robbing Me, the whole nation of you! "Bring the whole
tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My
house, and test 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 a blessing until it overflows. Then I will
rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the
fruit of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its
grapes."
Verse 16-18 "Then those who feared the Lord spoke
to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and
a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who
fear the Lord and who esteem His name. And they will be Mine,
says the Lord of hosts: on the day that I prepare My own
possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son
who serves him, so you will again distinguish between
the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God
and one who does not serve Him.
We hear the complaints of people continuously about how their
pastors are constantly asking for money. They say that we need
new bigger buildings, improvements, trips for the youth,
missions, love offerings, raises for the employees and the
pastor and the list goes on. By this time we have heard enough
about money and "besides we have our own bills to
pay."
Yet we see in the verses above that there is a blessing in the
paying of our tithes and a curse when we do not. We have heard
that we have only to look at a man' s checkbook to tell you
who his god is. One-tenth of what we make belongs to God.
Anything we give above that is a love offering.
2 Corinthians 9:7 "Let each one do just as he has
purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion;
for God loves a cheerful giver." Proverbs 3:9-10
"Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of
all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine."
We forget that it is God who blesses us with the knowledge of
how we make our living. Our job itself is a blessing from
God. Everything we have comes from Him. Deuteronomy 8:18
"But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is
He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may
confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is
this day.
I attended a church where the need arose of a larger building,
as we grew in numbers. We were asked to make pledges of
how much money we would contribute. We were told that we could
borrow on our life insurance policies, our homes, even
give up possessions.
We do need a place to meet and we need someone to teach.
Corinthians 9:13-14 "Do you not know that those who
perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and
those who serve altar have their share with the altar?"
So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get
their living from the gospel.
Personally, I no longer give to church buildings. I have
chosen to give to those ministries whom I believe have given
their lives to go-ing, be-ing and do-ing all that Jesus asks.
These do not ask for money. If it is of God then God will
supply it without your asking, whether it be from someone’s
tithe or a love offering. My bills on the most part out-weigh
my income, yet not one bill has ever gone unpaid. God has not
only supplied my needs, but also He has given me an abundance
to give to others. When we give to God, He takes care of
us. We can trust Him completely.
Matthew 6:31 "Do not be anxious then, saying, What shall
we eat, what shall we drink or with what shall we clothe
ourselves, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do
not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
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