Humanity has walked away from God, the real source of wealth and life. The direct consequence is greed and excessive materialism. There is urgency for the Church of God to inform and educate the world regarding this concept. Yet in many ways, the Christian community has lost sight of the truth.

This article will attempt to deconstruct the image we have had about wealth and tithing. We will do so through the only one truth, God’s Word. By doing so, we can look at the two principles from God’s perspective.

wealth

Many people, Christian or otherwise, associate wealth with amassing material possessions. The Collins English Dictionary throws up different dimensions of the word. While wealth is often associated with material possessions, it also includes other important elements, a wealth of gifts, desirable qualities, as well as natural resources. There are vital lessons we need to learn about wealth from the definitions.

• There is a source for the wealth for which we strive. Psalm 24:1 makes this point clear: “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it…” (NIV). This truth indicates our total reliance on Him for our survival. When things do not go according to plan financially, He is the one on whom we need to call.
• Secondly, when God created man, He gave him the responsibility of managing the resources of the earth (Genesis 1:28-31). This we have failed to fulfill because we shifted our focus from wealth as a means to an end to seeing wealth as an end in itself. As a result, we often wear ourselves out trying to make more of it.
• In spite of this, God is still in the “business” of empowering people with wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). He also empowers us with ideas which in turn creates wealth without adding sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). This is His way of making sure that we have what we need in order to live our lives in accordance with His will.
• Wealth is not only measured by material possessions. It includes skills, gifts, talents, and abilities graciously given to us by God. This is why it’s not appropriate when we say we are poor because then we have failed to recognize the talents and abilities God has given us. These gifts are worth more than what millions of dollars. With these gifts, we can become the “salt” and “light” of the earth and create lasting wealth (treasures in heaven).

Wealth is one of the many blessings God bestows on us so we can be channels of blessings to humanity. However, we stand the risk of losing out on eternity when we focus entirely on wealth accumulation. As Jesus put it in Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (NIV).

tithing

In the Old Testament book of Malachi, God repeats the basis for wealth creation for the people of Israel. He reminds them that the tithes must be brought into the “storehouse” and in return, He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it…” (Malachi 3:10). A tithe is a tenth part of every increase God gives us. “But you shall remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). In the book of Genesis, Abraham offered a tithe of the spoils from his battles to Melchizedek, King of Salem (Genesis 14:20).

Following Abraham’s example, we tithe because God commands it and because of our indebtedness to Him. Our faithfulness in tithing enables His body, the church, to carry out its mission of broadcasting the gospel to the ends of the earth, being the pillar and foundation of truth, and caring for orphans, widows, and others in need.

Tithing is one of the ways we show our gratitude and appreciation to God for the life, energy, and ability He has given us so we can create wellbeing for our families. In the context of Malachi, God demanded the tithe because the people of Israel had robbed him of it “…will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask how do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse because you are robbing me…” (Malachi 3:8-9).

When we do not tithe, we do not acknowledge Him as the source of our life and wealth. On the other hand, when we acknowledge Him as the source, He creates the opportunity for us to create more wealth.

wealth and tithing

Thus, one could conclude that wealth, to some extent, is connected to tithing.

• Wealth and Tithes have one source- God. He is the owner of all the wealth, and with our tithes we recognize that He allows us to amass wealth
• God uses our tithes to open doors of opportunity for the gospel. In turn, God places more opportunities our way so we can continue to place Him at the heart of what we do.
• Both wealth and tithing are a means to an end. On one hand, so God’s work can be executed. On the other hand, the wealth God gives us places us in a position to bless others.

We have an opportunity to go back to the source of life and wealth-God-to get our priorities right. As Christians, we can enjoy abundant life in the midst of economic turmoil. There is still hope for our future; the choice now lies with us…

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• He is Lord over money
• wall street, main street, church street
• mission
• the secret of financial wisdom
• the principle of ownership

Ever since I could speak, I had a bad mouth too. I talked back incessantly, especially when it came to money. My money was mine and I hoarded every cent, even if I just found it on the street. Soon we moved to America and in elementary school. I learned to sell toys to fellow classmates who seriously had no money sense. Some came from McDonald’s and some were ones I randomly found in my house. Later, in middle school I began running errands for people in exchange for money. With the liberty I had, I felt free to earn my own cash and I wanted to save whatever I earned.

Everyone thought that I would become a business woman and that path changed slightly when I gained an interest in music and fashion design. However, the saying appears quite true that you can predict what a child will become by the way they act when they’re young .

making Him Lord of every aspect of my life

During those years, God slowly opened my eyes and heart to my selfishness and love for money through verses, such as “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” I also read the passage about the rich man who asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied that he obeyed all the commandments, except “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). To emphasize the importance of this passage, “when he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.” In reply, Jesus said “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Over the years of my spiritual walk, God has not only convicted me of different idols in my life- such as pride, love of human praise, and lust in the flesh, but He has also convicted me in areas of finance. When we call Jesus Lord, we must make Him Lord over each and every aspect of our lives including our physical and material lives. I have several times when He spoke clearly to me, especially after I read Revolution in World Missions. I became disgusted by the way I had been selfishly using my money compared to the selfless missionaries in the field. They were willing to be beaten, live off of nothing, and wear rags in order to share the Gospel. Me? I was hoarding my own earnings, albeit not much, in order to guarantee success and security in this world.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6: 20-21).

During my high school years, God confirmed this radical calling in my life. He told me to be different, to cry for the lost, to heal the brokenhearted, to live for His cause. He deeply desired for my heart to be where His was and is to this very day. “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45). I had found this pearl and I knew that I would have to align my bank account with His heart too.

In fact, all good gifts come from the Father, He allows us to own possessions, but He also longs for us to bless others with them. God convicted me of this with my first car. I loved it and every time someone wanted to drive it, I would cringe inside and tell them no. Gas was expensive and my baby consumed it fast. I knew I was being selfish, but I denied it in my heart. One day, I woke up with this in my head: “Did I not give you this car?” I knew God was speaking and was reminding me that He gave me the money to buy the car, energy to work for the money, and life so that I can live in this world. God continues to convict me of specific areas and ways I use my money. There were times God told me to give all my savings to a certain missionary. I have found that when I give, God continues to supply my needs. In addition, I am freed from the chains of materialism when I submit to His authority. How can we live in obedience in every part of our lives except in the areas of money? Now that I have learned this lesson, I believe that Christians should talk about money and finance more in church and in society.

final words: His heart beats for us

Finally, I want to thank God for providing for me during the past three years of college. In my senior year of high school, I told God that if He wanted me to go to a fashion school (costing over $21,000 a year, excluding housing) I would need Him to provide. I then applied for a billion scholarships and was granted many. I can say to this day, I did not ask my parents for one penny of my college tuition and I never had to take out a loan. Praise God! Out of this, I have learned numerous lessons including how to be a good steward of my money by budgeting wisely and how to be resourceful. Now that I am trying to start my own business, I am able to invest wisely. I also sense that God doesn’t want me to have debt because He is sending me overseas to continue my missionary journey. Most importantly, out of daily surrendering my finance to the Lord, I find the most fulfillment in blessing Him by blessing others. For example, because I want to make Him known, I live simply so I can give to missionaries. I live simply so I can use the money when I am ministering to lost friends. I call it ministry money. I count all my possessions as dung; they mean nothing in comparison to the souls that can be saved for eternity because of my “simple living.”

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• wall street, main street, church street
• wealth and tithing
• roots of all kinds of evil
• no-fail investment plan
• luke 16:9

Jesus says in Luke 16:9, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Jesus doesn’t say: “Use your worldly wealth unless there is a recession and, in that case, keep it for yourselves.”

He wants us to use our “worldly wealth” to “gain friends” regardless of our outside circumstances or economic condition.

In the King James Version, “worldly wealth” is called “unrighteous mammon.” It is literally money or wealth that is not unrighteous in its own right, but becomes unrighteous because people treat it as their own, when they are really only stewards.

Jesus calls us to use what He entrusts to care for the needs of others—to “gain friends.” By meeting those needs, those you help see Christ through you—through your love, compassion, and mercy. “Gaining friends” simply means to win people for Christ.

This concept is also seen in Jesus’ parable of the talents (Luke 19:11-27). A king gave his servants 10 minas and said, “Put my money to work until I come back” (Luke 19:13). The first servant invested the minas and earned 10 more. The second servant also invested the minas and earned five more. But the last servant was afraid to lose the minas so he buried them in the ground and did not earn anything. When the king came back, he was furious and took the minas away saying, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away” (Luke 19:26).

Therefore, whatever God entrusts you with, He expects you to invest it wisely in eternal things—not bury it in the ground. Otherwise, like the king did to the servant, He will take it away.

how to invest

1. realize it’s God’s paycheck, not yours

Remember “for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (Romans 11:36)—that includes your paycheck, your tax returns, your year-end bonus, and your raise. Every cent flowing in and out of your bank account is from Him and therefore ultimately is His. He is simply entrusting you with it to glorify Him.

2. pay God first

Tithing has been encouraged for centuries throughout churches. Literally meaning “one-tenth,” God challenges us to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Malachi 3:10a). However, many of us only write the tithing check after the bills have been paid, groceries bought, and gas tank filled. Throughout the Bible, God wanted the first tithe of the harvest, the first tithe of the herd. By giving God your first 10 percent, you are truly trusting in Him to provide for your needs…and He will.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33).

3. find a need, fill a need

Being called to care for the needs of others is one thing. Choosing where to give your money is quite another. To simplify the search, remember that the church (not the building but the group of believers) is a representation of Christ on Earth. It should hold all the characteristics of Christ (see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22). When one member or part of the church is weak, it is the responsibility of the other members to lift him/her up. Therefore, your first priority should be toward the church (other believers).

This should not be your only priority, however, as God also calls us to provide and protect the poor, orphans, and widows (Zechariah 7:10).

4. be prepared for serious ROI (return on investment)

God promises big rewards for your investments in others. As mentioned in Malachi, God says that when you invest, He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10b). Considering that God is the Creator of the universe and has the power to make and do whatever pleases Him, this is a powerful promise.

Also, in the story of the talents, the king says to the investing servant, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with small things; I will put you in charge of greater things” (Luke 19:17). God promises that if He can trust you with small responsibilities, He will give you bigger responsibilities.

Lastly, investing in others is a way to “store your treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Treasures in Heaven can never be destroyed or stolen and ultimately pleases God.

will you take the risk?

Investing money in others might scare you and conjure up questions of doubt:

Am I really enabling their financial problems?

What if they aren’t thankful?

Will I have enough to live on if I give so much away?

But remember what God commands in Luke 16:9 and that He wants to use you—and the money He entrusts—to fulfill His purpose. Will you stand in His way?

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• roots of all kinds of evil
• solution for the recession
• luke 16:9
• He is Lord over money

I’ve read several articles, blogs, and commentaries about this verse and many writers suggest that Christ is telling His followers to “win souls for the kingdom” by using money to take care of people’s physical needs. They believe that in this verse, Christ is telling us to be charitable. By doing so the recipients would be converted and be in the Kingdom where they would welcome you there “into eternal dwellings.” This interpretation seems to fit a little closer to the other teachings of Jesus. Unfortunately, upon closer examination it appears that they are reading too much into what Christ says and not being honest with His simple statement.

To understand this verse we must first put it into the proper context. It is actually the end of a parable that Christ was telling His disciples. The Pharisees had been misusing the tithe-money they received from the people and the parable addressed this corruption in an interesting way. We know the verse is related to these religious leaders because of their response in verse 14: “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”

Christ begins the parable by introducing a dishonest manager who was working for a rich man. The rich man accuses him of wasting his possessions. Seeing that he is about to be fired from his job, the dishonest manager formulates a plan for his survival. “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses’” (Luke 16:3-4).

The dishonest manager goes to all the people who owe his boss money and makes deals with them. He offers one debtor a debt settlement for fifty percent of what is owed and to another he offers to settle for eighty percent. With these deals he is swindling his boss so that he may have a place to sleep and eat after he loses his job. His motivations are clearly selfish.

We read in verse 8 the rich man’s reaction: “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” Some people take this statement as an endorsement by Jesus that Christians need to act more shrewdly like the people of the world. However, by what He tells the Pharisees, this is not what He is saying: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15 NKJV). Just because the rich man commends the manager’s actions does not mean he justifies them. This parable is condemning these worldly activities that paralleled many practiced by the Pharisees. The “people of light” should not act like the dishonest manager.

Christ now ends the parable with the controversial verse 9. I believe the NKJV translation makes the meaning a little clearer: “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” This is Jesus punctuating the meaning of this parable by using hyperbole. He is in effect saying that if you are going to be dishonest like the manager and then fail, you’d better buy yourself some friends so you will have a place to stay. Some people get hung up over the “everlasting home” part of the verse. They believe it possibly represents the Kingdom of God. However, this interpretation is not supported by the context of the parable nor the explanation that He gives of it in the next few verses. A better conclusion is that it is simply an exaggerated use of language to make a point.

In the explanation of this parable Christ shows us how to truly approach monetary responsibilities in this life. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). Here Jesus tells us that we need to be trustworthy in the things that we are given in this life. The dishonest manager was not trustworthy and is an example of behavior to avoid. In our jobs and dealings in this world concerning money, we should not try to be shrewd and dishonest; instead, we should be trustworthy. Jesus convicts the Pharisees because they were dishonest in how they dealt with the money they received from the people. That is why this parable made them so angry.

There are no contradictions in Christ’s teachings about money. As “people of the light” we should be known for our integrity. All our financial dealings should glorify Christ so that we may one day manage the “true riches” in His Kingdom.

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related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• no-fail investment plan
• He is Lord over money
• solution for the recession
• roots of all kinds of evil

wall street

When you walk down Wall Street in New York City, it seems like just another big-city street. It is located in lower Manhattan, a very quaint and historic part of the city. When you pass by the New York Stock Exchange and begin to see all the people and financial institutions, you begin to realize how powerful this street is. In addition to being the epicenter of America’s wealth, the world also relies on the success and power of Wall Street. It is easy to understand why a job on Wall Street is stressful and has one of the highest rates of depression and suicide. Right now the financial markets are in a cycle of financial downturn, plunging along with the rest of the world. The largest countries of the world have rushed to spend billions and trillions of dollars. They are trying to stimulate growth and stop the markets from falling further. Our nation’s debt continues to rise and the value of the dollar continues to fall. I can’t help but wonder how long we can continue down this path. At what point will we be out of resources and completely dependent upon the rest of the world?

the seed of abraham

To have a better understanding of how we got to this point, we must go back to a biblical covenant. In it, God said to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2, 3). I believe God honored His promise as the people of Abraham, including the United States, has brought wealth and peace to the entire world. The blessing passed from Abraham on to Isaac, who had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first one born and deserving of the birthright. Jacob was envious of his brother and loved by his mom so she devised a plan to deceive Isaac in his old age and steal the birthright. Jacob followed her plan and was successful, but his lust for wealth cost him dearly as he never saw his mother again, his father was crushed emotionally, and his brother despised him. Jacob learned a very hard lesson about deceit and what happens when we allow material things to get in the way of our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. It is ironic that the beginning of the blessing started out this way. Today, most people fall into the same trap and act the same way as Jacob. America, in general, is focused on money and power. We have lost our respect for the one who blessed us and gave us this wealth and power.

main street

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are among the most significant people in the Old Testament. They were not the perfect heroes we might expect; instead they were just like us, trying to please God, but often falling short. They were aware of their weaknesses and overcame them to become closely bonded to God. Their great wealth was never an issue with God; however, their actions because of the wealth and their response to God’s instructions were important. Today’s society is moving further away from God with no sign of remorse. The family unit has suffered terribly with divorce occurring at an alarming rate. Sexual deviations from God’s design have become commonplace in entertainment, the internet, and legislation. Abortion claims millions of victims every year, and disobedience, murder, violence, and greed top the headlines each day. Most of our leaders appear to be equally as sinful as the people they serve. So where do people turn to for help? Throughout the years, Satan has cunningly deceived mainstream religion and twisted it completely away from God. How can anyone seek answers and truly repent of their sins when the religions they turn to are based on false doctrine and pagan worship? This leads to despair, which can be tragic and often end violently.

church street

Even as good Christian soldiers, we can be deceived and fall victim to Satan. When we are blessed and wealth occurs we must be thankful to God rather than becoming greedy and a slave to the wealth. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:23). Jesus did not say it was impossible, just difficult. We must overcome the challenges and stay true to God. Further on in verse 26, Jesus tells us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We must constantly defend against Satan’s attacks and stay close to God by constantly praying, repenting, and fellowshipping with Him and fellow believers. Commit yourself to God by becoming baptized and studying your Bible, allowing God’s Spirit to grow and work inside you. Realize that everyone fails and comes short of the glory of God. As we can see so many times throughout the Bible, what is most important is how we respond to our sin. Matthew 6:25-34 tells us that we should not focus on our earthly needs and wants, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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• roots of all kinds of evil
• no-fail investment plan
• He is Lord over money
• roadblocks lead to opportunity
• luke 16:9

debt is a curse

Many people today are struggling with huge debt problems. This is because they did not follow the wisdom of God’s Word, but instead turned to the world’s wisdom to handle the other ninety percent of their finances. This is when they walk into trouble instead of walking closely with Jesus. This is true of the individual and of nations.

Why does God speak so strongly against debt? “What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). First of all, we must remember as Christians we are not our own, we belong to God. Therefore God does not want us in debt to anyone. Notice what the Proverbs say. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). For the individual borrower this is bondage!

If you are free of debt that is God’s reward, because debt is a curse. On a national level, God promised Israel freedom from debt as a reward for obedience. “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessing shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shall thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store…and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 12).

the uncertain future

All of our plans are based on an uncertain future. While it is good to make plans, be aware that they will always disappoint us if we leave God out of them. We can’t make plans as though God does not exist, because all future events are in His hands. For example, there is certainly not anything wrong with buying a house. In fact, it is a wise thing to do. What God’s Word cautions us about is being sure we have the job security necessary to make the mortgage payments and not buy more house than we can afford. Notice how James cautions us about this very presumption. “Go to now, you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain: Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that you ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).

make God your partner

No matter what we do in life we need to make God our Partner. We can avoid serious calamities if we talk our plans over with God first. Jesus has already shown us His genuine love. He loves us enough to give us the tough advice necessary to help us in this life in all matters financial or otherwise. If we fail to take our plans to God first, and we get into trouble, as many do, it is still not too late to call upon Him for deliverance. David accepted God’s punishment, but he begged God not to discipline him in anger. Jeremiah also asked God to correct him gently and not in anger. God knows us thoroughly and wants the very best for us. We do not have to be victims of circumstance or be weighted down by the guilt of sin. Be honest with God and Jesus, and they will help us turn our attention from our own selves to Them and Their great mercy!

tags

related posts

• wealth and tithing
• wall street, main street, church street
• no-fail investment plan
• luke 16:9
• He is Lord over money