A Recipe for Healthy Finances and a Healthy Church
God's way of financing His kingdom on the earth is through tithing - the giving of the first tenth of your increase and income. This ten percent is to be given to the Storehouse - the place where you are fed spiritually.
By giving your tithe, you are allowing your pastor, his staff, and the church to run effectively. God never intended His kingdom to be financed by bake sales, rummage sales, and the like. He has set a principle in motion that not only assures us financial protection and blessing but also that there will be meat in the house of God.
You can participate in a miracle! The giving of your tithe allows the miracle of increase and favor to come upon you. After tithing, the remaining 90 percent goes farther and produces more than anything you could have done with the initial 100 percent of your income.
Only God know all the trouble and damage He's kept away from you because you trust Him with your tithe.
By tithing, you allow your spiritual leaders to focus on ministry instead of raising money and stressing over bills. Ministers are free to minister, pray, study and seek God for the direction on the Church body or ministry.
If a pastor has been working a secular job all week, raising a family, running a church (because there is no money for staff) and trying to pastor - it is likely that by Sunday there won't be a whole lot of meat in the house for you.
This means that the church's vision could veer or wane; the word in due season that should have been preached may not come; or miracle you needed may not be yielded to because of weariness by the pastor.
A Healthy Church
Your tithe allows you to get the most out of your pastor - and that keeps your church healthy. You will be blessed, your church will be blessed and your church will be free to reach out to a lost and hurting world all because you (and your tithe) allow them to be doing the work of the Church.
In Genesis 14, we see Abram just back from a victorious campaign.
Gen 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
Bread and wine was a customary refreshment of that day but let's look at it in light of our New Testament covenant. Melchizedek, a representation of Jesus, brings out the elements of communion - representing our covenant with God. In that covenant, all He has is ours - and all we have is His.
Gen 14:19-20 and he blessed Abram saying, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
When we bless God, we acknowledge that God is the source of all-good. The word blessing is derived from spring, meaning that God is like a never-ending spring, that provides a constant flow of blessings to His creatures.
By tithing, Abram sets up a trust fund. He is saying, God, I trust You. I honor You as my source so I am giving the first ten percent to You.
Gen 14:21-24 The king of Sodom said to Abram, Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, I made Abram rich. I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me--to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.
Are We Trusting God?
Abram turned away from the world's system of success and was not willing that any man get God's deserved glory. Are we willing to turn away from a little slight of integrity here and the Big Deal (even if it is a little shady) there in order to trust God?
Today, it may look more appetizing to not uphold integrity in finances because of the economy but if you will stay true to God and His system - you will win. And if you look at the news, you will see that the hidden things are being revealed anyway.
Many have the ability to amass great wealth from the world's ways but it has no guarantee. We are God's covenanted people. We are to show forth His praises and glory in the earth. We want people to look at us and say, I can see that no man has made you rich but that the blessings and favor of God is upon you. Please, introduce me to your God.
Gen 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.
Abram's hand was open to God; therefore his heart was open to hear the word of the Lord. Because Abram tithed - put his money in God's trust fund - God had an awesome promise for Him - do not be afraid.
By not accepting the men and goods that Abram rightly could have had, he was not allowing himself to grow in power thus leaving him vulnerable to another attack by other kings. God reassures him that because he chose to live by the principle of tithing that he would not have to fear.
Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. This promise lines up exactly with Malachi 3:
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 3:10-12)
God's benefits to the one that tithes:
•Healthy Church: there may be meat in mine house.
•Blessed to be a blessing: I will…open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing.
•Healthy finances: I will rebuke the devourer
•Show forth God's goodness: all nations shall call you blessed.
No matter what happens in this economy, you can have a place in God where you do not have to fear and are protected from the devourer!
Make a commitment to a lifestyle of tithing then God can open the windows of heaven for a healthy church and healthy finances.
About Author
About The Author:
Sandra Hughes is an ordained minister, compelling speaker, and Director of All Nations School of Ministry located in Houston, Texas. She is a graduate of DOMATA Missions Training School and has served as Director of The Family Life Institute for Biblical Studies at Lakewood Church. Visit http://www.sandrahughes.org to book Sandra Hughes for your next church service, conference, meeting or retreat.
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