Category: Money

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What is The Tithe/Tithing All About?

Did You Know?

The first freewill offering of the tithe (one tenth) was given by Abraham to King Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20). Abraham had just won a huge battle against the King of Elam and other kings (Genesis 14:1-17). Abraham gave Melchizedek (who was also a priest) a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, also made a vow to God to give Him a tenth of all that God gave him (Genesis 28:22).
So tithing was established before the law and was subsequently incorporated into the laws given to the children of Israel in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22-29).
Jesus Himself mentioned the tithe when He noted that the Pharisees tithed on even spices that were given to them. He said we were to tithe but also not ignore the weightier matters of the law – justice and mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42).
That said, to those who say that as born again believers, we are not under law but under grace, they are right. But that neglects (or overlooks) the following truths:
  1. Tithing started before the law.
    • If we are Abraham’s heirs of the promise (Galatians 3:29), we should act like our father Abraham to obtain the blessing he did (Hebrew 6:12; Romans 4:12).
  2. Our responsibilities under grace far exceed those under the law.
    • The law says “you shall not commit adultery”. But Jesus said if we look at a woman lustfully, we have committed adultery in our heart (Matthew 5:27-28).
    • The law also says “you shall not murder”. But Jesus said if we speak harsh words to our brother or are angry at him without cause, we are in danger of the fires of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22).
  3. God is a giver. As God is, so should we be (Matthew 5:48)
    • For God so loved the world that He gave (John 3:16).
    • God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:30).
    • As God is, so are we (or so we should be) – Matthew 5:48.
  4. Tithing is a principle that comes with specific blessings of protection and prosperity. Malachi 3:8-12
  5. Tithing is a demonstration of our trust in God (Jehovah Jireh). Malachi 3:10
  6. Tithing can only be understood by spiritually mature believers not babies in Christ or unbelievers. Hebrews 5:11-14
In summary:
  • We are not under an obligation (of law) to tithe in order to be blessed or avoid a curse (Malachi 3:8-9) because Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13-14). But the bible is also very clear about the importance of giving (2 Corinthians 8 and 9).
  • Your motive for giving and your heart posture towards God is important. We must also seek God’s input on how much and where to give the resources He has so graciously blessed us with (James 1:5; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
I tithe because:
  • I love God
  • I trust God
  • I prioritize God

About BibleStorm

At BibleStorm, our mission is to illuminate hidden truth found in God’s Word (i.e. the bible). Our vision is to see people become more familiar with the bible, biblical themes and concepts and to develop a hunger/desire to learn more about God through His Word. We are doing our part to seek the kingdom of God and spread the good news of salvation through bible trivia. And to help people transform their minds through the living Word of God. Learn more about us.

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What are the fruits of giving?

In our blog post, What’s In Your Wallet, we discovered that God is the source and giver of everything we have. Whether seed (i.e. resources) or bread (for food), it all originates from Him (2 Corinthians 9:10). In What’s in your Wallet? Part 2, we discussed why God provides seed and bread for us. In summary, it is so we can have everything we need and be generous and bless others.

So what happens when we respond properly to God’s generosity?

For those that have responded properly to God’s generosity (i.e. by liberally giving as described in v8-9 vs. consuming all the seed for our own lusts/self), God has promised to also:

  • Supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. v10 NIV
  • Supply and multiply the seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. V10 NKJV
  • Provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. v10 NLT

Our proper response also results in God enriching us in everything and every way so that we can always be generous on every occasion (v11).

Our giving produces fruits of praise, prayer and thanksgiving to God from the recipients on our behalf (v11-12). Just as importantly, it supplies the needs of God’s saints so that the work of the Kingdom of God can continue.

This is the same principle Jesus described in Luke 6:38 – “Give, it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom”. Strangely enough, the more we give, the more we have. In fact, King Solomon wrote:

“There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.”
~Proverbs 11:24

We are to show this generosity first to those in the household of faith i.e. fellow Christians but also to everyone (Galatians 6:10). “Moved by the extravagance of God in our lives, they will respond by praying for whatever we need” (v14 – MSG).

God exhorts us to not be weary in well doing for in due time we will reap/receive our harvest if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). The truth is God has already promised increase in His Word (2 Corinthians 9:10) so we should rest on His promises and ignore the process trusting that God is faithful and will bring His Word to pass.

“The math of heaven isn’t a calculation of scarcity but of abundance. We can share joyfully because God promises to care for us even as we are generous to others.”
~Our Daily Bread.

 

References

 

#Giving #Money #Finances #MoneyPrinciples #Seed #Bread #FinancialFriday #Giver
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What’s In Your Wallet? (Part 2)

“God supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food (to the eater)”
(2 Corinthians 9:10).

In part 1 of this blog post, we learned that God is the giver. Whether seed or bread, everything we receive originates from Him (James 1:17). We also learned that it was important to ask God how we are to use every income that enters our hands (bank account, wallet, etc) – See Proverbs 3:5-6.

That said, have you ever considered why God provides seed and bread for us? In summary, it is so we can have everything we need and be generous and bless others.

Here are 10 reasons why God provides for us (from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15):

  1. Shows us an example of the generous life we are to live (v8, 10)
    • God didn’t spare His own Son but freely gave Him that we might live through Him (Romans 8:32; John 3:16)
  2. So that we have everything we need (v8)
    • God is Jehovah Jireh (our provider) and wants us to recognize that He is the source of everything (Deuteronomy 8:18; Matthew 6:31-33, Philippians 4:19; James 1:17)
  3. So we have plenty left over to share with others (v8 NLT)
    • Demonstrate compassion and God’s love for others (1 John 3:17)
  4. To increase the fruits (harvest) of righteousness in us (v10)
    • The more we sow, the more we will also reap (Galatians 6:7-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6)
  5. To enrich us (v11)
    • The generous soul will be made rich (Proverbs 11:24-25)
  6. So we can be generous in every occasion (v11)
    • See the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37)
  7. To supply the needs of the saints (i.e. God’s people) (v12)
    • Paul commended the Philippians for sharing in his distress by sending aid to him (Phillippians 4:14-18)
  8. To produce expressions of thanksgiving to God (v12)
    • When we give, it produces praises to God on our behalf (2 Corinthians 1:11)
  9. To glorify and praise God (v13)
    • Seeing our good works causes others to glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16)
  10. To produce prayers for us (v14)

Paul closes 2 Corinthians 9 by “thanking God for His indescribable gift” (v15). What is that gift you ask? It is the person of Jesus Christ, who came to earth, died, and was resurrected in order to atone for our sins and restore us to a right relationship with God the Father. It’s important that we receive the free gift that God has already given in his son, Jesus Christ, before we seek anything else from Him. Check out our salvation appeal page to learn more about Jesus Christ and how to receive Him as Savior.

References

#Money #Finances #MoneyPrinciples #Seed #Bread #FinancialFriday #Steward

About BibleStorm:

At BibleStorm, our mission is to illuminate hidden truths found in God’s Word (i.e. the bible). Our vision is to see people become more familiar with the bible, biblical themes and concepts and to develop a hunger/desire to learn more about God through His Word. We are doing our part to seek the kingdom of God and spread the good news of salvation through bible trivia. And to help people transform their minds through the living Word of God.

Order your very own BibleStorm trivia game cards today from our online store.
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What’s in Your Wallet?

seed and bread

God is the source and giver of everything we have. Whether seed or bread, it all originates from Him. God gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater.

Everything we receive is from God (James 1:17) and is to be used to His glory. That applies to our time, talent, and definitely our treasure (money). In fact, God is the one that gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

However, not everything that enters our hands is meant for us. We are simply stewards who get to benefit from God’s largesse. But we must use the resources wisely (not in our own wisdom but according to God’s wisdom and direction for the money).

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”
2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

A farmer that has a seed has 2 choices. He/she can cook and eat it or they can sow it back into the ground to yield a harvest greater than the seed that was sown.

Likewise, we can’t eat (i.e. spend) everything we get. Everything that we receive is not meant to be consumed by us (like bread) but some is meant to be dispersed (like seed) so that it can produce a future harvest (in others, for ourselves, etc).

So we have to ask ourselves – is what I have in my hand (wallet, bank account, etc.) seed or bread?

How do we know the difference? Whether what we have is seed or bread? Let’s look at some examples.

Boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (John 6:1-14)

After teaching a crowd of 5,000 men (plus women and children) all day, Jesus challenged his disciples to feed them. They responded by noting that over 6 months of the average daily wage would be insufficient to feed the multitude. But there was a boy whose parents (well really mom!) had packed a lunch bag of 5 loaves and 2 fishes. The boy gave up his meal to the Master. (Side note: I wonder if he worried about how much of it he would actually get to eat. Perhaps a crumb or two.) But after Jesus broke the bread/fish and gave thanks, He instructed his disciples to give it to the multitudes that were by now sitting down. The bible records that each person got as much as they wanted and were filled. And at the end, there were still 12 baskets of leftovers. (I can just imagine that the 12 baskets were given to the boy to take home to his family!)

Widow with last morsel of food (1 Kings 17:8-16)

During the reign of King Ahab, the prophet Elijah prophesied that there would be no rain over the land and this lasted for 3.5 years (James 5:17). It is no surprise that the land was in a severe drought. There was a widow in Zarepath with a son who was preparing her last meal (handful of flour and a little oil) before she and her child would succumb to hunger and die. The prophet Elijah asked her to first make a meal for him and then for herself and her son and promised that the seemingly insignificant amount of food would last through the rest of the drought (which it did).

 

In the case of the little boy and the widow, what seemed like bread was actually seed. In fact, what they had in their hand already had a divine plan from God. For example, God told Elijah to go to Zarepath where he had commanded a widow to provide for him (1 Kings 17:8). When they were willing to trust God and obey his instructions / release it into the hand of the Master, they received a harvest that was impossible to imagine.

So ask yourself this question –

Is what I have in my hand (wallet, bank account, etc.) seed or bread?

And trust God to show you and tell you which is which.

In part 2 of this blog entry, we will share 10 reasons why God provides for us. Hint: how many parents want to be good providers to their kids?

 

PS: It’s important that we receive the free gift that God has already given in his son, Jesus Christ, before we seek anything else from Him. Check out our salvation appeal page to learn more about Jesus Christ and how to receive Him as Savior.

 

References

 

#Money #Finances #MoneyPrinciples #Seed #Bread #FinancialFriday #Miracle #Sow #Steward

About BibleStorm:

At BibleStorm, our mission is to illuminate hidden truths found in God’s Word (i.e. the bible). Our vision is to see people become more familiar with the bible, biblical themes and concepts and to develop a hunger/desire to learn more about God through His Word. We are doing our part to seek the kingdom of God and spread the good news of salvation through bible trivia. And to help people transform their minds through the living Word of God.

 

Order your very own BibleStorm trivia game cards today from our online store.
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Fear is ungodly

You may have seen or heard the expression that fear stands for “false evidence appearing real”.

 

Why and what do we fear?

Financial issues, health issues, insecurity about the future, concern for loved ones?

We (as believers) fear because:
  • We do not know how much the Lord loves us.
  • We do not know about our new position in Christ.
  • And we do not know the promises the Lord has made concerning us from the foundation of the earth.

 

God has said He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5) and He would be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:5,9). He said He would never let us be tempted above what we can bear but with every temptation will provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

When we change our focus from our fears  (which may seem insurmountable or impossible from our viewpoint) and see our fears in the context of our loving Father in heaven, we recognize we have nothing to fear. The bible declares that
“[we] did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but [we] received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15

 

No matter what fears we may have or be experiencing, we have an answer in the bible. The psalmist declared “I sought the Lord and He heard me and He delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4). That “when we cry out, God hears us and saves us from all our troubles” (vv6,17).

 

How do we turn from our fears?

By looking to, seeking and trusting God. The Word of God states that:
  • Those who look to the Lord are radiant and their faces are not ashamed (v5)
  • Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing (v10)
  • Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord (v8)

 

So what then is the proper application of fear in the believers life?

Psalm 34:9 tells us “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

 

In a future post, we’ll share the only thing the believer should fear and some of the benefits to this reverential fear.

 

Did You Know?

but of power and of love and of a sound mind (or self control)
(2 Timothy 1:7).
This spirit we have been given as believers is the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised to His disciples before He ascended to heaven. He said we would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon us (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49). Also, love and self control are 2 of the 9 fruits of a spirit led life (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

However, this gift of the Holy Spirit is only given to the children of God. And you can only become a child of God by accepting His Son, Jesus the Christ. To learn mroe about Jesus and how to receive Him as Savior, check out our salvation appeal page. That is the first step towards being delivered from ungodly fear.

 

#Fear #BibleStorm #BibleStormTrivia

 

Check out more of our blog posts on fear including the consequences of fearful thinking.

 

About BibleStorm:

Our mission is to illuminate hidden truth found in God’s Word (i.e. the bible). Our vision is to see people become more familiar with the bible, biblical themes and concepts and to develop a hunger/desire to learn more about God through His Word. We are doing our part to seek the kingdom of God and spread the good news of salvation through bible trivia. And to help people transform their minds through the living Word of God.

 

Order your very own BibleStorm trivia products today from our online store.