God and My Money (Part 1)
Today, we are starting a new series on GOD AND MY MONEY!
Now, when it comes to money, most people’s financial priorities look something like this…
- You work hard & get paid on the 25th of the month
- This gives you a little breather and allows for a small spending spree before the end of the month
- On the 1st of the month, debit orders hit your bank account, and cash flow is depleted
- Debt repayments follow, ensuring that you are cash-strapped
- By the end of the 1st week of the new month, you are left in survival mode, as cash flow is tight and you still need to put food on the table. You are left with more months than money!
- If by some miracle there is some cash left over, you may try to save a little & you may even give something to God.
- This vicious cycle continues, leading one into a negative and defeatist mindset. Many are left with a bleak outlook of “what is the point of trying to budget or plan”?
Many people fail to prioritize God and develop a wealth plan because they set up their budgets in the wrong order.
I encourage you to re-evaluate your priorities…
- Put God 1st (when you put God first & trust in Him, He will be your protector and provider)
- Save part of your income in order to build up wealth & provide a reserve
- Budget and manage your expenses. Spend the remaining funds to cover your living expenses.
A simple formula that we have examined on Financial Matters many times in the past is the 10-20-70 principle.
This principle will help you put God first, while also helping you to build wealth.
10% TO GOD = PUT GOD 1ST
20% TO SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS
70% TO COVER YOUR REMAINING LIVING EXPENSES.
This is vitally important to put God 1st. When you put God 1st, He takes care of the rest.
Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
It is also important to build savings and investments into your budget.
The rich and the poor…
I heard an interesting analogy that separates the rich & the poor when it comes to saving:
- Poor people generally SPEND FIRST and save what is left over. (The problem here is that there is never anything left over, so they end up not saving)
- Rich people SAVE FIRST and spend what is left over (This way they always build wealth first)
“He who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” (Proverbs 13:11)
It is a matter of priorities:
The simple choice of putting God first with your money and then saving is a strategy that honors God and will help you build a fruitful financial future.
Today, I want to encourage you to put God first with your money!
Let us begin by examining a principle found in the Word of God that addresses how we manage our finances. It is called a “TITHE”
WHAT IS A TITHE?
The Hebrew word that’s translated as “tithe” literally means a tenth. The tithe is GIVING 10% OF YOUR INCOME TO GOD.
Now, giving to God is not just going to your favorite Christian bookstore and purchasing CDs and books with 10% of your income.
That’s not tithing, okay, that’s shopping!
So, let’s try to answer the question from the Bible, and the question is:
WHAT IS TITHING?
Let me give you two definitions and thoughts:
- Tithing is returning the first 10% of our income to God.
What is tithing? It is returning the first 10% of what God trusts to us back to Him through His church.
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:30)
A tithe of everything from the land, whether the grain from the soil or the fruit from the tree (10% OF EVERYTHING YOU EARN OR RECEIVE), belongs to God (IT’S HIS), and it is holy (SET APART) to God (FOR GOD’S PURPOSE).
So, tithing is not technically giving; it is RETURNING to God what already belongs to God.
So, the tithe belongs to God, and we should return it to His house. In other words, I don’t want what belongs to God in my house; I want to take it to His house.
Tithing is the practice of returning the first 10% of our income to God’s church.
- Tithing is giving God my first and best so He can bless the rest.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Honor God with your wealth (MONEY) with the first fruits of all your crops (BEST PART OF EVERYTHING YOU PRODUCE), then GOD will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine (ABUNDANT PROVISION).
As we give to God, God will supply our needs in abundance.
Now you may be thinking, Wow, I’m trying to survive, and now you are telling me to give to God? I wish I hadn’t heard this message. Let me tell you that there is a huge BLESSING in giving to God.
THE BLESSING OF GIVING TO GOD
We are called to put God 1st with our money.
When we do, there is a tremendous blessing.
While we don’t give to get, God’s word is filled with scriptures that show God’s abundant provision and blessing, when you choose to put Him 1st with your money! …
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully”. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
Wrap up…
I want to encourage you to give to God.
- Put God first.
- Love Him.
- Don’t serve money.
- Don’t get into bondage to money.
- Serve God.
- Giving to God is a tangible way of putting him first,
Let money serve you, as you put God first with your money!
Why don’t you make the decision and say …
God, “Today, I will put you first.”
Lord, “I will give you my first and my best”.
Father, “I will trust you to bless the rest.”
Next week, we will continue with our series on GOD & YOUR MONEY!
Have a great week. God bless you.
