“Give simply my child,” I believe we could hear God say!
“I will give boldly,” our faith CAN reply to God!
We teach our children math, calculus and the division of shapes, but there is a math that seems to be forgotten!
God’s math; or perhaps we could even call our Tithes and Offerings ‘Gardening Math’ –A Math of blessings, called Tithes!
We love our children and strive to teach them the basics of life!
Yet, are we teaching our children to trust God with our money?
Are we demonstrating our trust to the ONE that money really belongs to?
Are we teaching and modeling to our children how to be blessed and never go without –by teaching them how and why to Tithe?
Tithing is FAITH & OBEDIENCE to the ONLY TRUE and LIVING God –Our Father, who offers us a way and opportunity to prove our loyalty and love for Him; to prove our view of how much we need and depend on HIM in our personal life.
God already proved HIS love for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, who also proved His love for the Father and also for us.
Our trust in God reflects in our actions by faith.
What provisions do you need in your life? That –ONLY a miracle from God could solve?
Make a list and look at! Then, do NOT tithe to get it!
Now, I base my life on Romans 8:28; and Yes, God will work all things together for the good to them that love God according to the purpose in which we are called!
But God doesn’t need your money to bless you! All you have to do is ask God HE will hear you and answer according the His good will and purpose in which He has set.
Yet, I also, believe God’s plan is set in T H E CHURCH -with Jesus Christ as the Head of The Church …
that together, we are to do the work of the Father together in Christ.
God doesn’t need our money, but I believe God teaches us that [the world needs our tithes, offerings and good works] for the world to see the Reflection of Christ and to believe!
Tithe because you love God and are thankful for L I F E : Grateful for Everything God has freely given, given through His Son and continues to give each and every day –as long as God calls it Today!
Tithe because you love your neighbor, as Christ has first loved you! Tithe to give the church a surplus of money / resources to reach out to those in need with the good news of Jesus Christ; along with a meal; or helping hand UP!
Churches in Christ should NOT lack in funding! Too many scandals in the world, but only one Christ! We CAN turn the world’s view of the church around!
“In God We Trust” needs to stand for something more powerful than the paper or coin it is written on once again!
Your faith is important and personal between you and God; as is mine. But together, we can demonstrate faith as the Body of Christ working together with God.
On a side note; It is God noticing, working and multiplying each person’s faith; & According to my knowledge in the Word of God, no tithing amount is more or less important to God. Rather, it is The matter of The heart that God looks at and sees.
My heart is gentle when I say this … if we are not showing faith, then for a lack of a different / more gentle word, would we not be denying our faith?
Offerings are separate from Tithes; and perhaps even more from the heart, because offerings are so free -No percentage; just that your heart will drive you to give freely your very best as the Holy Spirit positions you!
Some will question the Tithing Percentage; and offer some justifications.
But, consider your faith first!
As for me, I am okay with 10%. I’d do more if God told me to, and sometimes I do just to be sure my heart is clean. But I refuse to do less, because of the God I serve. Faith is a matter of the heart and according to the written Word.
How much will you trust God? 10% 5% 1% or zero? Or, perhaps you give God your all?
Tithes and offerings need to be freely given with pure joy and thanksgiving filling our soul to the overflow from this river of grace –that God has provided; God’s every provision.
Seek 1st the Kingdom and His Righteousness -Peace is the greatest reward.
Children, “Listen to me,” were my words last week: “One thing I never want to you to forget is to always Tithe and give back to God 10% of every dime you make!” It is not too much for God to ask!
If you make a dime, give God a penny.
If you make a dollar, give God a dime!
- If you make $10, give God a $1.
- If you make $100, give God $10!
- If you make $1000, give God $100!
But will you be able to tithe when you make 10,000?
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When you make $10,000, give God $1000!
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What about when you make $100,000? Will it be harder to give God $10,000?
Do it anyway! You have been blessed with an OPPORTUNITY to Use the dime to earn His trust!
God has given you and us all who will just believe His Word of Truth and Trust HIM –in all that He IS and all that He has, and all that you will ever need, so that you will be blessed by His loving and powerful grace which is found by living with God to know this great JOY He has engineered in us in our ability to be Blessed to be a Blessing!
- God gives you 10 Cents, Will you trust Him with HIS penny?
- God gives you 1 Dollar; Will you trust Him with His Dime?
The more you earn God’s Trust, the more God will trust you with!
If God gives you a dollar and you keep it all –then that is all you will ever get –A Dollar!
However, When God blesses you with a dollar and you receive it with Praise and Thanks Giving, You have an opportunity to Tithe, and demonstrate your faith and trust in God. Then, God will trust you with MORE!
We are blessed to be a blessing and that is God’s Math!
If you think, tithing 10% of all you make is impossible –then, recognize this thought as the doubt that you can use to extinguish your faith that God Is God. God is a God far exceeding 10%!
In fact everything beautiful thing you can see –is only a glimpse of the greatness and vastness of God!
A little doubt comes from a little [fear] –and a little doubt is all it takes to STOP you from using your Faith Equipment!
You are equipped with a gift of Faith, which God will use! God CAN and DOES DO big things in the kingdom of God –through Christ who gives us everything we need to accomplish God’s good will!
Do this simple math to discover what your faith can do –Discover the joy in pleasing God! Empower THE CHURCH! Pray about where God wants you to sow your seeds and use your faith to plant your part –Not only will you be blessed by God (the Bible tells us so), but you will be blessed to be a blessing and it will be God who makes it all grow! To God be the glory!
Imagine …
God will give you a corn seed with a purpose to plant –and leave it for you to sow! IT TAKES FAITH to plant it!
Our faith CAN Plant the seed –BUT, it IS God, who will cause the corn seed to grow!
We, by our faith WORK –BUT, we must trust God for every essential: The soil, rain, sun –and don’t forget that 1st seed!
God’s grace is so efficient!
God’s math challenges our faith to grow!
Would you trust God with your All and All?
- The Widow did! Jesus noticed!
- Jesus also saw the others … Read Luke 21:1-4 & Mark 12:41-44
- God knows our heart and sees our demonstration of faith as well.
Luke 21:1-4 (NIV) The Widow’s Offering 21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
I know you know this, but Praise God that He blesses us every day! May we receive God’s gifts as the blessings they are –the gift is made to increase, NOT STAY PUT! God makes everything grow; and we are blessed to be a blessing!
One final thought before I leave this message on my heart Today: Why faith? If you had a small doubt that a corn seed would grow, you may not plant it –and not all seeds will grow!
You may even out-think it? Yet, if you choose faith and you sow all you have been given, expecting by faith your harvest will be more than your seed, then God will work!
We can Trust God to do what He says; and let God do His work! Sometimes, our mind just wants to get in the way …
When we plant that seed in faith, faith knows GOD CAN and we TRUST GOD that multiple corn seeds will appear!
The Lord has shown me this way to bring this message to you.
Your money is a seed that God has first given to you. He wants you to invest a tenth into The Kingdom of God!
When God multiplies those Zeros –as only God can do, will you use your faith and show God how much you care?
- If God gives you a million dollars, that tenth may still stare at you hard, but how much will you trust God?
- And who will be your Lord?
- If God gives you $1,000,000 –Would you joyfully give Him $100,000?
Now, after you answered that large question with no doubt “star wonder” in your eyes, of what a million dollars would mean to you right now…
Will you trust God with “your dime” and give God “HIS penny” for each dime that God provides?
It is never about the money, it is about the faith, hope and love that we offer to God –our trust in Him alone!
“I don’t have it all figured out, BUT God does, FOLLOW JESUS!”
Love in Christ,
Karen Rowe
Hope in Today Ministries, Inc.
The Train Whistle, Sounding the call of God’s Love (The beginning of Hope in Today Ministries!)
To learn how to get your copy of this book: Go to www.hopeintoday.com
“In God We Trust; We Are “Blessed to be a Blessing”!