Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10, ESV)
Everything belongs to the Lord! Yesterday, I shared how this is the first and most important principle of stewardship. If we miss this first point, we will miss the rest. God has entrusted us to use what he has given us in the way he intended us to use it. With that said, what are some of the ways he intends for us to use things he has given us?
When we are children we leaver to share. This is the very first thing that we do with what we have been given. We share the money in our possession to build God’s kingdom, to help others, and to make a difference.
Notice this is our first responsibility. It comes before the others. If we wait to share from what is left over at the end, there will be nothing left to share. If we are to share, we must make sharing our priority.
The Biblical name for this is the tithe. It was the first 10% of the harvest that the people would offer to God. It was the first fruits of the harvest. It was the best portion because the people realized that God did not deserve the leftovers. He deserves the very best!
God has tremendously blessed many of us. He has given us more than we ever realize. We live lives of luxury in the modern world that ancient kings could have only dreamed about. Most of us have more to share than we ever realize.
The reason we lack is often because we don’t share more. How is that? It would seem that if I want more, I will share less. But so much about God is counterintuitive to our way of thinking.
Look at a dollar bill. There is a sermon written on it. The dollar bill says is “In God we trust.” We need to consider if we believe that to be true. If we believe that to be true, then we will use the paper on which that slogan is written, in the way that God intended us to use it.
But instead of trusting God to put that money to work and invest in heavenly treasure we hold on to that money for ourselves. When we trust in having that money in our bank account more than we trust in God to provide – we have to ask who is our God? Who do we trust more?
The tithe is as much about 100% of our income as it is about the first 10%. By sharing that first 10% we our gratitude to God for all he has given us. We also demonstrate faith that God will provide us everything that we need and more. It shows we trust the Almighty God more than the Almighty Dollar.
So the first use of our income is to share. We will look at a second use tomorrow.
Reflection
- Does your use of money show that you trust in the Almighty God more than you trust in the Almighty Dollar?
- How can you be more generous with what has put into your life?
Prayer
Thank you Lord for giving me money in my checkbook so I can be generous and to share with others. I give to you my tithe and offering in grateful recognition of your salvation and your provision. I give it to you in thanksgiving that I have the opportunity to give. Also, help me to give to demonstrate my unwavering trust in your ability to provide for all my needs and more. Amen.
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