Financial Giving-Part Six
Summary
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SUMMARY
Churches and ministries function by the giving of tithes and offerings. Churches and ministries are supported the same way today as in Old Testament times. If there were no tithes and offerings, they would have to close their doors.
Money helps to spread the
gospel. It is used for:
Salaries for those who share the gospel
Bibles, bibles studies,
literature
Food and clothing to those in need
Housing subsidies needs for those who have encountered tough times
Counseling for those who are troubled
Church
facilities
and much more.
There is a selfish mindset in the USA in regards to money. For many it is not a matter of how little they give, it is if they are giving at all. For most, things are more important than helping someone.
Your attitude on giving reflects the condition of your heart. Many times how you spend your money reflects more about your spiritual condition, than your financial situation. The checkbook register of many people will reflect their spiritual condition.
Here is a very popular verse, but few practice it. As Christians do we believe its promises are true? If so, why do we not do what God says, “test Me now in this”? Many Christians would say they have not experienced blessings that overflow. It is because they are looking at it in a materialistic way. Blessings can be much more than money–what about the blessing of good health, the car lasting longer, not being laid off from work? Or how about the blessing of seeing a relative being set free from drugs, a neighbor being born again, a whole city being transformed?
Malachi 3:10-11
"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. [11]
"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the
fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,"
says the Lord of hosts.
It is time for the Body of Christ in America to repent of its materialistic, self-centered attitude. In spite of this attitude the American Church has accomplished much for the Kingdom of God. What would happen if instead of 16% of people tithing, 100% of church attendees tithed? Only God knows the answer to that question. But I believe He would be coming back much sooner, because there would be the funds to support every ministry, which would mean the gospel would be proclaimed to everyone much quicker.
However, unless people are willing to give their time, the funds will sit in the bank waiting to be used. Our next series of nuggets will be on the subject of “Giving Our time”.
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations used are from the New American Standard Version (NASB).