Take the faith test

A THOUGHT TO CONSIDER:

Are you aware that there is a FAITH TEST in the Bible when it comes to God and your money?

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLE:

When I was growing up, I remember hearing that you must never put the Lord your God to the test. Deuteronomy 6:16 confirms this.

Jesus also told us in Luke 4:12, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

However, there is one exception in the Bible, where God tells us that we can put Him to the test. This involves your money!  

TAKE THE FAITH TEST!

Malachi 3: 8-12 says…

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.”

God continues, “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.”

God then goes on and says, “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.”

God continues, “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.”

In Malachi 3:10 God says, concerning giving your tithe to him, “Test me in this,”

God is saying, “Test me in this. Give it a go. I dare you to give me your first and best, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

God was saying, “Test me in the area of your giving to me, and see if I won’t prove myself faithful. I will open up the floodgates and I will bless you beyond what you can imagine!

Take the step of faith. Give to God. Put God first.

God goes on and says, “I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,”

In other words, God says that he will not only pour out his blessing on you when you put Him first with your money, but he will also protect your money and stretch it. Somehow God will miraculously supply an abundant supply of provision.

According to the Faith Test, you will also discover that by giving your 10% to God, that God will bless the 90%. It will go further than 100%, because God will bless your giving.

God carries on and says, “Then all the nations will call you blessed.”

According to God’s word, when you give to God, He will bless you. He will provide for your needs. He will come through for you!

Take that step of faith. 

God was saying, test me in this and watch! See if I will not protect what you have and supply all your needs in abundance. I will bless you and pour out my favor on you.

Take the faith test!

Put God first with your money. Give God your first and your best, and trust Him to bless the rest!

INTERESTING THOUGHT TO PONDER:

How much money have you earned in the last 5 years?

Have you managed your money well?

Were you able to give to God?

Were you able to invest some?

What have you got left?

If you have managed your money poorly over the past 5 years, I challenge you to do something differently.

Why not consider getting your financial priorities in the right order.

Can you make a few changes to get your budget working and to ensure that the next 5 years are fruitful?

Here is a simple solution:

• Put God first.
• Build in your savings and investments.
• And live on the rest.  

POWER QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“The more you give, the more comes back to you, because God is the greatest giver in the universe, and He won’t let you out give Him. Go ahead and try. See what happens.” – Randy Alcorn

“Earn as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Invest as much as you can. Give as much as you can.”  – John Wesley

WHAT DOES GOD HAVE TO SAY:

Sow in the right reason…

“Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.” (Proverbs 20:4)

If you don’t put the right work in at the right time you will suffer in the future. You need to work hard in the current season and manage your money well now if you want to see the fruit in the future. 

God has your best interest at heart…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

You have what it takes…

“I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength.”(Philippians 4:13)

Put your faith in God…

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Look to God…

“Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

Remember that God is your source. He is your provider. He has promised that He will never abandon His Children, so trust in Him.

If you are not in a relationship with God, please invite Jesus Christ into your life to be your Lord and Savior. We were cut off from God due to our sin, but Jesus paid the full price on the cross so that we can be reconnected to God. God loves you so much that He made a way for you to become part of his family. He wants to share forever with you. 

If you want to start or restart your walk with God, click here to pray a simple prayer we have set up for you.

LET’S PRAY:

Father, I surrender my life to you and ask you to be my Lord and Savior. I put my faith in you. I ask you to pour out your blessing on me. Thank you Father that I do not have to face life alone, but that you are with me through it all. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CONCLUSION:

I challenge you to put your faith in God. Give God your first and your best, and then trust Him to bless the rest. Giving doesn’t have to be painful. Give generously. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver!  

Put God first. Why don’t you give?

Have a great week. God bless you.