But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
This verse clearly showed me that EVERYTHING I have is from the hands of God—EVERYTHING! (See also Romans 11:36.)
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
In this verse I see a command and a promise. If I will honor God with my money … Scripture clearly says He will take care of me (and that promise is true for you as well!)
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
I remember the day I realized I was a slave to debt … and I didn’t want to stay that way. So I made the decision to become a good steward of what the Lord had given me, get on a budget and make tough financial decisions. (See also Proverbs 21:5.)
#4—Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 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.”
I did not tithe for the first nine years I followed Jesus … and I was ALWAYS broke. I began to tithe in 1999 and the Lord has ALWAYS provided what I need, when I need it.
#5—Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
This verse has always served as a reminder from Jesus that the #1 competitor for my heart is money … and that if I am going to follow Him financially, I must do it intentionally because it will not happen accidentally.
(Also see Jesus DESTROY the myth that “if I had more I would give more” in Luke 16:10-12.)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
These verses scream, “You CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD!” I’ve had people try to use this section of Scripture to justify NOT tithing or giving because they “do not have a cheerful heart.” My response is always, “So let me get this straight … Jesus Christ came from heaven to earth, died on the cross to pay for your sins, has promised you to always be with you, is preparing a place for you in heaven and is at work in your life right now and you do not have a cheerful heart? If that’s the case then there is a MUCH deeper issue going on.”
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
This one WRECKS me every single time I read it or hear it, and it is PROOF that you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
If you have not checked out our NewSpring website that has additional teaching about finances, a place where you can sign up for FREE financial coaching, see how to make a budget, plus quite a few other things, then you have GOT TO GO check it out right now!
Also … if you want to read some other stuff I’ve written on finances, you can check out …
- Six Ways to Win With Money
- Four Reasons Why I Give
- Seven Ways You Can Be Rich
- Top Seven Stupid Financial Mistakes I’ve Ever Made—Part One & Part Two
