"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of your crops." Proverbs 3:9-10
When I was younger my grandparents stressed about the importance of tithing. Story after story they described their personal experiences of living without giving to the Lord and the turmoil that came with their decisions.
Malachi tells us the blessing of tithing/giving to the Lord:
"'You are under a curse-your whole nation- because you are robbing me. 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 enought 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."
Verse 9 shows us that by not tithing we put ourselves under a curse and rob God. You may be wondering how we could rob God when we're the ones working and "earning" our wages, but everything belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:14), telling us that even our hard earn money isn't technically ours but God's.
In verse 10, God commands us to bring the whole tithe so that there is food in His House (compensation for His workers - pastors, ministers, evangelists, missionaries, etc.) We discussed this topic in the last post.
God also gives us an opportunity to test him in our giving. This is the only area where we are allowed to test God. Why?
I believe because God is a Giver and gave everything for us, He greatly desires for us to partner in His ways as image-bearers and give back what He gave us
I also believe He knows the temptation that comes with earning wages (pride, greed, control, power, idolatry, etc.) and gives us an opportunity to humbly give up control and turn our focus on Him to provide our needs rather than ourselves and our money.
The Blessing of Giving:
Once my grandparents continually tithed and gave, they said they never lacked or were in need but often had more than expected. This is the blessing God Almighty promises us in verse 10.
But is there a certain way to give?
Proverbs tells us to honor the Lord with our wealth and with the FIRST FRUITS of our crops.
Cain and Abe are good examples of two brothers who gave with different attitudes (see image to your right).
Eventually Cain grew angry that God did not approve his offering, but God tells him, "Why are you angry? If you do well (give the first fruits and the best parts of your crops), will you not be accepted?"
Cain had a choice: Give the Lord his first and best or give what was left over. And God warns him, "If you do not do well (give the first fruits and the best parts of your crops), sin lies at the door. And its desires is for you, but you should rule over it."
Cain's decision to give the Lord a portion vs his best is very similar to what we face today. Like Cain, if we do not give the best and first portions (both of our wages and hearts), then sin (pride, greed, control, idolatry, selfishness, and jealousy, etc.) will sneak up on us and attempt to rule our lives and hearts.
How to will combat ungodly behavior?
Below are 8 areas that make up our lives. My challenge for us this holiday season is to give to the Lord first and best parts of each area.
Tips: Take time to write down, pray and seek the Lord on how to give Him your first and best parts in each of these 8 areas.
By doing this, you are entering into an amazing promise of blessing from the Lord and keeping sin behind the door of your life by ruling over it.
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