A VISION FOR MY FINANCES

INTRODUCTION

Money is a part of life just as tithing is a part of the bible. You cannot live life separate from dealing with money just as [I would argue] you shouldn’t call yourself a faithful Christian without understanding the tithe and why God cares so much about giving. This year, as you think of your ideal vision for your finances, I challenge you to start not with material positions that are attributed to wealth or success in our culture, but start with your giving to God. Take a moment to ask yourself how you are actually doing with this topic and remember to be honest.

• Do you give faithfully to the church? 

• Is giving a challenging topic for you to reflect on and think about? 

• What emotions come up when you think about your finances and about giving your tithe? 

- Fear, Shame, Guilt, Uncertainty, Anger, Control, Pride, Anxiety

These are all the opposite of faith and stem from a lack of understanding and revelation of the biblical principle of giving. Giving to God is linked to faithfulness, and the bible clearly states that those who are faithful to God will be blessed by God (Proverbs 28:20, Romans 3:1–4, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Hebrews 13:8). As Christians seeking to live a sanctified life, not just one that stops with the free gift of salvation, biblical giving should be a foundational principle of focus. Giving can and will transform your walk with Christ. That is a biblical promise.

In the western world, our society is very ecocentric, especially around the topic of wealth. The rich and famous are glorified, materialism is highlighted in almost every sphere of culture and is looked at as a standard of success. The financial outlook of the average person is oftentimes deeply rooted in pride which can be difficult to confront if not given the right tools and teachings. The scriptures and resources provided in this devotional are meant to give you a perspective shift on this topic and to truly help you understand God’s promises around giving. 

WHAT IS TITHING?

Tithing in a nutshell is a form of expressing gratitude to God for all he has done, all he has given to us, and for who He is. God is El Shaddai which is the Hebrew term that describes God as “the All-Sufficient One” or “the God who is more than enough.” God is Jehovah Jireh which means “the Lord will provide.” The purpose of tithing is to help humanity remember the importance of relying on God, trusting in His word, and thanking Him for everything. Being obedient with our tithe and with our giving helps us model our lives after Jesus. He spoke in Luke 10:27 about honoring God with “all our heart, all our mind, and all our strength” and in the Sermon on the Mount about giving more than what is asked and without thought of repayment.The Lord’s sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate representation of giving all.

HOW DOES THIS PERTAIN TO YOU?

Money is a litmus test for spiritual maturity. If you can be faithful in giving the tithe to the Lord, you are equipping yourself to also be disciplined in giving your time, prayer, counsel, love, support, resources, etc in support of the work of the Lord’s Church (its ministry and people). This posture means that you have faith in GOD and what HE is doing NOT what YOU can do for yourself. Tithing allows us to practice our submission to God through obedience and is a very healthy thing spiritually to do consistently. This is the position we should live our lives in as Christians.

WHERE DID TITHING COME FROM?

Summarized Excerpt From - TheosU - When Did the Church Start Tithing Money Instead of Objects? 

[Biblical tithing foundationally started in Genesis with giving God first fruits. This was a tradition of honoring God with our best that was passed down through generations, and it was common sense in early cultures. This is the foundation for biblical stewardship - recognizing that we are simply stewards of the resources God gives to us because it is his to begin with. God created all so God “owns” all. God lacks nothing so he doesn’t “need us” for our money. He instead loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7) and also loves our obedience which his blessing then flows from (Proverbs 3:1-2). We then see the word “tithe” show up for the first time in the story of Abraham when he gave the priest and king of Salem named Melchizedek a tithe “of everything” he had. Next the Mosaic Law codified the practice of paying the tithe where one tenth of one’s income was to support the Levitical priesthood and one-tenth supported the Tabernacle and state. The New Testament kept the spirit of the law and the principle of giving but did way with animal sacrifices. In the early church, sacrificial giving became synonymous with the Christian community and with spiritual maturity. Later, the Roman government tried to manipulate Christians to give offerings to their pagan and Roman gods and those who refused were ostracized, imprisoned, or martyred for their faith. It is common nowadays for churches to receive financial gifts and material resources from church members so the ministry of the church can advance. The important thing to remember with this biblical history is that the financial tithe, commanded in Malachi 3, was viewed by early New Testament leaders as a commandment of God, a mark of spiritual authority, and God’s expectation for all church members. However, new covenant believers do not view giving a financial tithe as a means for salvation or a requisite in securing forgiveness. Faith before works. (See James 2:14-26). The early Christian Church incorporated giving into their times of worship and petitioned believers to help raise money for those in need. Receiving special offerings to support missionary work and to assist those facing persecution or suffering from famine is duly noted in the book of Acts.]

Understanding the history of the biblical tithe is a great first step to learning about this topic of giving. However, knowledge alone of this giving principle is not the same as the action of obedience. As we look into this year, I encourage you to seek the Lord on how to grow your giving and generosity. Ask the Lord how you can grow His Kingdom and bless those in the ministry and in your community. Meditate on his word and the scriptures provided on giving. Let God’s word seep into your mind and take root in your heart. Ask the Lord how you can grow your faith and revelation of giving and watch God’s promises come to fruition this year! You can trust him to do a good and mighty work in your life. It simply starts with your act of obedience that honors and thanks God for who He is.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I declare the mighty name of Jesus over my finances and over my heart of generosity. Today I choose humility, contentment, and to live with open hands and a generous heart. Help me see others how you see them and help me see the church as you see it. Help me to have a heart that grows your ministry on this earth. Lord help me be a cheerful and faithful giver. Lord help me give not out of religious obligation but out of a conviction of who you are and how good and faithful you have been. Lord, help me understand the responsibility of the tithe and the fruit that follows that discipline. I repent of any Fear, Shame, Guilt, Uncertainty, Anger, Control, Pride, Anxiety plaquing my mind around my finances. I apply the blood of Jesus over my finances and over my giving. I declare in the mighty name of Jesus that as for me and my household, will be good stewards and operate in faith that “you shall supply our every need” as your word says. I speak El Shaddai and Jehovah Jireh over my finances. I come against the temptation to control my finances by my own will, my own knowledge, or my own willpower. I declare the mighty name of Jesus over my realm of influence - my job, my business, my bank, my friends, my family, my household, etc. Lord speak to me and give me revelation on the next step you want me to take in this area. I prophetically declare that I am blessed to be a blessing, I am a faithful steward, I cast my cares on the Lord, I will seek first the Kingdom of God, I choose to seek you not the love of money, I choose to have a heart of giving above and beyond just the tithe, I believe that God is my source and my supply, I believe that I can trust that your promises are true and good, I believe you are who you say you are, and I believe that you are a God of provision. Lord, I choose to honor you today with my wealth and with the best part of everything I produce. I thank you Lord that you bless the faithful and that you generously provide for every one of my needs. Lord, I declare a “Yes, and How Much” type of spirit over my finances that when you ask something of me, my thoughts are not from a position of lack but one of faith. Lord, I pray that whether I make a $100 or a million dollars that I never lose your heart of generosity. I declare that blessing and favor will flow as I take a faithful step in obedience today. Most importantly, thank you Lord for all you have done, all you have given to us, and for who you are.

Allie Mancuso
Worship Coordinator

SCRIPTURES AROUND GENEROSITY

Heart for God NOT coveting money or vanity

• Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NKJV)  OR  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NIV)

• Exodus 20:23 - Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. (NIV)

• Matthew 6:1-4 - Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (NIV)

Integrity

• Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. (NKJV)

• 1 Timothy 6:17 - Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (NKJV)

• Matthew 25:21 - His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ (NKJV)

• 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (NIV)

Kingdom Financial Principles

• Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And he adds no sorrow with it. (NKJV)

• Malachi 3:10-12 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)

• Deuteronomy 15:6 - For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.(NKJV)

• Proverbs 18:11 - The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. (NKJV)

• Ecclesiastes 5:19 - As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. (NKJV)

• Job 42:10 -  After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before (NIV)

• Proverbs 19:14 - Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord (NKJV)

• Matthew 17:24-27- (Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes) - When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the [b]temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” (NKJV)

• Proverbs 3:1-2 - My son, do not forget my teaching,  but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (NKJV)

Faith not Fear 

• Proverbs 23:4 - Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! (NKJV)  [Or in a different translation]  Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. (NIV)

• Philippians 4:12 -  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (NIV)

• Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (NKJV)

• Matthew 13:22 - The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. (NIV)

• Romans 8:4 -  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Honoring the Lord; First Fruits, Obedience

• Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase (NKJV)

• Romans 13:6-7 - For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor (NKJV)

• 1 Chronicles 29:12 - Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. (NKJV)

• Acts 5:3-4 - 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (NIV)

• Matthew 23:23 -  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 

• Numbers 18:21 - “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.

• Numbers 18:26 - “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering.