Prosperity & Tithing

From a February 2007 Teaching [brackets mine]

God is so great that he only wants the very best for us.  He wants to see prosperity and blessings fill our lives. It's not fun when we experience lack in a category of life, and it's never God's will for that to happen.  God is all about meeting our needs above and beyond what we can ask or think as noted in Ephesians:

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen

In this teaching, we will see how God meets our physical and material needs, and how He goes above and beyond to really bless his kids.  He allows us to appropriate these blessings via “the law of giving and receiving.” As we give, we are bound to receive.

III John 2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

God’s will above all things is prosperity and health for his children.  (Prosperity and health go hand in hand because what good is prosperity if you do not have the health to enjoy it?)
God is our source of abundance.  We can attempt to do it all on our own, but it is not until we trust Him that things fall into place.

Have you ever noticed that if you have not been successful in accomplishing something, how soon it is accomplished once you ask for God’s help? - Why not ask for it first?

Matthew 6:33-34
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow [tomorrow]: for [tomorrow] shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
 
There are a lot of truths in these two short verses.  First we note that God wants us to look to Him first in all our dealings.  The result is that he will "add unto us" all the blessings that His Word promises.  Next we learn the importance of taking things one day at a time.  This day in which you and I are in right now is the only day that we can do anything about.  The past is gone and the future isn't here yet.  There is a lot of wisdom in this concept.

II Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work

This verse clearly states that God is able, and willing to be our sufficiency.  We can have needs met in every category by trusting what His Word says regarding our giving.

God instituted the principle of the "tithe" which simply means "tenth" in the ancient languages.  It refers to the principle of giving at least 10 percent of your income, time, energy, and self to the ministry and the work of God.  Anything over 10 percent is considered "abundant sharing" or an additional offering.  So while the tithe is the minimum that God requires in order to activate this spiritual principle, it is certainly not the maximum. By following this principle, God will multiply your gift back to you many times over.  If you give of your time, God will make your time more effective.  If you give of your money, God meets your material and monetary needs.  It works every time!

“Throughout the bible material prosperity always hinges upon tithing….[it is] God’s basic law of prosperity…[and it has] never been improved upon except by increasing the proportion.” -VP Weirwille

The first tithe ever recorded was In Genesis 14.  This section of scripture shows the record of Abraham and a man named Melchisadek who was a Priest of the most high God.  After winning a great battle and taking a great amount of wealth from the enemies, Abraham freely gave of this abundance to Melchisadek for the work of the ministry, and when he did so he asked God’s blessing on his offering.  It is interesting to note that this was before the law of Moses was given - which required people to tithe. It was not a routine process for Abraham, it was a gift from the heart - as tithing should be. We also ask for God’s blessing on our tithes and offerings so that they may have a great impact on God’s work.  When we go to God first, our future is ensured.

In Acts 20:35, Jesus Christ says “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Jesus Christ understood what it meant to be a servant.  He freely gave to those around him who were in need, and in turn, God met his every need.  His gifts were certainly not only physical either; he gave gifts that we can not put a price tag on.  He gave of himself in loving service to God, as well as giving his life at Calvary to be resurrected and exalted to the right hand of God, enabling salvation and access to God for us. We now get the benefit of eternal life, perfect health, and the ability to manifest holy spirit in our lives, just to name a few.

“No one is ever poorer for giving, but richer” - VP Weirwille

2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully 

This principle applies to all of life. You get what you give.  Plant good seeds and you will reap a great harvest.

“You may only expect God’s best when you have shared your best” - VP Weirwille 

Malachi has a great section of scripture dealing with the principle of tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:8-12
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

 God challenges us to prove this principle for ourselves.  He promises that as we tithe or abundantly share, our life will be prosperous.

Tithing opens up the valve to God’s abundance like a fire hose. It is the absolute minimum requirement in this category in order for the promise of God to come to pass for us.  We owe at least the tithe to God for all that he has done for us. 

What it all boils down to is our “believing.”  It takes full confidence and trust that God is our sufficiency in all things in order for us to be able to give the tithe or more. It contradicts human understanding that we can have more for giving something away. The reason it works however, is because it is a spiritual principle.

II Corinthians 9:6-7
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (Also see verses 9-15)

God loves a cheerful giver.  That is a powerful statement!  Giving should be a joy to our heart, never a burden or a routine action that we take on Sundays.  As we give we should expect God to return our gift back to us many times over.

We are focusing on the material realm, but this concept also flows into other categories as well.  Giving is a spiritual concept, and we certainly grow spiritually by our giving actions. We also get a great feeling emotionally because we know that our gift goes to benefit others.  You get that “warm fuzzy” feeling all over when you are able to bless another person or group with your gift.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Give and it shall be given unto you.  This principle is noted all over the Bible.  As we give, we receive.

Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

God is the creator of the heavens and the earth and everything we have is truly His anyway.  By tithing we are acknowledging this and giving Him the praise for His blessings.

In the book of Acts, the evidence and result of their cheerful giving is noted.

Acts 4:32-35
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

These individuals freely gave of their finances, property, and their lives for the furtherance of the Gospel. As a result, each person had their needs met abundantly while operating this principle. "Neither was there any among them that lacked" is a powerful statement!

In Matthew, Jesus Christ reminds the Pharisees that there is more to the tithe than just money:

Matthew 23:23 NLT
"What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Omitting the more important or “weightier matters” was a very legalistic way of thinking on the part of the Pharisees.  They were going through the motions and performing the outward act of giving, but their hearts were not doing it for the right reasons and they were missing the point. God wants us to acknowledge Him as our sufficiency in all categories of life, not just financially. And when we give we should do it with a cheerful heart, giving God the glory and honor.

It does not matter what it is that we give; It only matters THAT we give.

As we walk in the steps of Jesus Christ and give of our time, money, energy, and talent, we will surely see great abundance in every category of life.  God’s potential is endless!

God Bless You!