This week's devotion is entitled:
This week's devotion comes from 5b the Beginning by Judah Smith.
In one of Jesus' famous teachings He taught us a profound principle, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21)." God does not need our money, but He wants our heart. He knows that as we give our money away, we are giving our heart to Him. Giving money demonstrates faith in God that as we obey Him in giving, He will meet all of our needs.
The Bible teaches us about two types of giving, tithes and offerings. The first type of giving, our tithe, is to be paid to the local church that we are planted in. A tithe is 10% of our income that God has told us to set aside for the church that feeds us spiritually.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all..."
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper...
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
Here mortal men receive tithes, but there He receives them...
God instructs us to give, by faith, ten percent of our income in obedience to His Word, believing we will be blessed as a result. All of our life belongs to God including our money, our giving ten percent (tithe) is a demonstration of that fact. The Bible also teaches us to give offerings, which is beyond our ten percent. In fact in the verses before Malachi 3:10 God tells us we have robbed Him by not bringing in both the tithes and the offerings.
Offerings are in addition to our tithe. Many times the Holy Spirit will prompt you to give more to support a missionary or bless a friend in need. There is an incredible joy in giving and it truly pleases God. We are blessed to be a blessing and we prosper for the purpose of helping others and spreading the Gospel. Remember it is a promise of God that as you give your tithes and offerings he will bless you.
~Malachi 3:10
~Hebrews 7:2
~1 Corinthians 16:2
~2 Corinthians 9:7
~Luke 6:38
~Hebrews 7:8