The cattle on a thousand hills...

“A faith that hasn’t reached your wallet, probably hasn’t reached your heart” (Adrian Rogers).

I work for the Lord.  Every penny I make belongs to Him.  Everything I am able to do is because of who He created me to be.  Psalm 24:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:26 tells us that “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”  “He owns it all – not a tithe, not a love offering, not our leftovers; He owns it all” (D. Ramsey, Complete Guide to Money pg. 311).  He doesn’t need my money… “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills… For the world is Mine, and all its fullness” It’s All His! (Psalm 50:10-12).  If I work for the Lord, God gets 100% and gives me 90%... That’s very generous!!

We have a giving God.  He gave His one and only Son for me.  I am made in His image.  He is the ultimate example of giving.  His word has many examples for me to give of my first fruits; to tithe 10% of all I make.  “’Bring all the tithes into the storehouse...’Says the Lord of hosts” Malachi 3:10).

Sometimes when life gets tough and finances are looking bleak, some would suggest that perhaps not tithing as much is an option.  This is not an option for me.  In all my adult life I have seen the goodness of the Lord in His caring for me.  I remember when I was living with my best friend (late 80’s early 90’s) and we had pretty much nothing.  She was blessed to be able to eat breakfast and lunch at her work, and me mine.  I was out of gas though… How would I get to work?  Guess what came in the mail that very afternoon?  An unexpected check from my insurance company for $19 (gas was only $.97 a gallon), plenty of money to fill my gas tank.  When things were tight when my boys were young and expenses came up, we (my ex and I) never opted to not tithe, and while our budget did not work on paper, our bills were always paid!  That is a testimony to the Lord!  My trust is in Him.  I once had a pastor who when he was teaching about giving asked the congregation “What bills would you rather have not paid?”  He was not making it a legalistic thing, but it presented it (to me) that God should be first in giving and paying bills.  I don’t give out of legalism, but out of obedience, and with the gratefulness of His constant provision.  To think that my measly tithe can further His kingdom is mind baffling.  What an honor it is to give.

I just finished the Financial Peace University class, and am amazed at the statistics that Christians tithe only 2.5% - 3% of their finances.  Not my words, but I agree with them. “You can’t say you are a follower of Christ when you are not giving.  You can’t walk around with the clenched fist (holding tightly on to your “own” money) and tell people about how amazing Jesus is.  There’s a disconnect.  They won’t believe you because your whole attitude is of selfishness, fear, and greed…” (Dave Ramsey, Complete Guide to Money pg. 312)

Stewardship is the job of supervising or taking care of something such as an organization or property.  God is trusting us to manage what He is so graciously allowing us to have.  I encourage you to ask yourself, How am I doing?  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). God speaks a LOT about money in His word.   We need to pay attention to His words, and be good stewards with His money.