{"id":2125,"date":"2016-01-09T00:01:52","date_gmt":"2016-01-09T08:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/?p=2125"},"modified":"2016-01-08T13:17:57","modified_gmt":"2016-01-08T21:17:57","slug":"money-matters-do-not-rob-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/money-matters-do-not-rob-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Money Matters – Do Not Rob God"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>One of the most discussed subjects within the Holy Bible is money: How to make it, how to manage it, how to save it, and how to wisely spend it, and how to correctly invest it. God brings this subject up in practically every book of the Bible. At first glance, it would seem that He thinks it to be a very important topic!<\/span><\/p>\n

There are so many different and varied Scripture verses in reference to money and its proper usage, that you can find ample instruction regarding any particular use of money that you need to know. However, I believe I will just stay to the simple side of things and tell you what God has to say to all of us regarding the importance and usage of our money.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tithing Principles are all laid out in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 14, verses 22–29 NKJV :<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(22) \u201cYou shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the<\/span><\/strong>
\n field produces year by year.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(23) And you shall eat before the Lord, in the place where He<\/span><\/strong>
\n chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain<\/span><\/strong>
\n and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your<\/span><\/strong>
\n herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n your God always.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(24) But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not<\/span><\/strong>
\n able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your<\/span><\/strong>
\n God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the<\/span><\/strong>
\n Lord your God has blessed you,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(25) then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in<\/span><\/strong>
\n your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God<\/span><\/strong>
\n chooses.<\/span><\/strong>
\n(26) And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart<\/span><\/strong>
\n desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for<\/span><\/strong>
\n whatever your heart desires you shall eat there before the<\/span><\/strong>
\nLord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your<\/span><\/strong>
\n household.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(27) You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates,<\/span><\/strong>
\n for he has no part nor inheritance with you.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(28) At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of<\/span><\/strong>
\n your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(29) And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance<\/span><\/strong>
\n with you, and the stranger and the fatherless, and the<\/span><\/strong>
\n widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be<\/span><\/strong>
\n satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all of the<\/span><\/span><\/strong>
\n work of your hand which you do.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We are all given further guidance and instructions from God concerning the tithe in the Book of Proverbs. Chapter 3, verses 9–10 NKJV:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(9) \u201cHonor the Lord with your possessions,<\/span><\/strong>
\n And with the firstfruits of all your increase;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(10) So your barns will be filled; with plenty,<\/span><\/strong>
\n And your vats will overflow with new wine.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The most direct guidance concerning the tithe and other offerings to the Lord is given to mankind through the last Prophet of God, Malachi. This prophet was given the charge to call God\u2019s People to Authenticity. His work was accomplished through the final Book of the Old Testament, The Book of Malachi.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s last Prophet, Malachi, in ancient biblical times served during Nehemiah\u2019s day–a period of corrupt priests, wicked practices, compromising leaders and a false sense of security in their status with God. In his efforts to give the people God\u2019s call to authenticity he also calls God\u2019s leaders to perform their leadership roles from relationship rather from position.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The name Malachi means \u201cMessenger of Yahweh\u201d–and no further messenger from God came until John the Baptizer arrived centuries later in the New Testament era.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Book of Malachi<\/strong> concerns itself with the heart of God\u2019s followers. The people had become consumed with out-ward appearances rather than inward purity and submission. God wants obedience from our hearts, not just our hands.<\/strong> His leadership raises the bar once again on what it means to follow with our whole heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leaders Are Only Stewards of What God Owns.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We are stewards of what God owns, nothing more. God promises that if we practice good stewardship, he will bless us greatly. But if we disobey, He will allow the \u201cdevourer\u201d to destroy what we produce. Leaders especially must remember that we do not own anything; we only manage God\u2019s resources.<\/span><\/p>\n

Listen to the words of Malachi regarding the tithes and offerings procedures that should be obediently followed. It is all laid out in the Book of Malachi 3 : 8–12 NKJV:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do Not Rob God<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(8) \u201cWill a man rob God?<\/span><\/strong>
\n Yet you have robbed Me!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

But you say, \u2018In what way have we robbed You?\u2019<\/span><\/strong>
\n In tithes and offerings.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(9) You are cursed with a curse,<\/span><\/strong>
\n For you have robbed Me,<\/span><\/strong>
\n Even this whole nation.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(10) Bring all of the tithes into the storehouse,<\/span><\/strong>
\n That there may be food in My house, (10%),<\/span><\/strong>
\n And try Me now in this,\u201d (tithing)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Says the Lord of Hosts.<\/span><\/strong>
\n \u2018If I will not open for you the windows of heaven<\/span><\/strong>
\n And pour out for you such blessing<\/span><\/strong>
\n That there will not be room enough to receive it.\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,<\/span><\/strong>
\n So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground.<\/span><\/strong>
\n Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field.<\/span><\/strong>
\n Says the Lord of hosts;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(12) And all nations will call you blessed,<\/span><\/strong>
\n For you will be a delightful land,<\/span><\/strong>
\n Says the Lord of hosts.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cGetting\u201d always comes to the \u201cGiving\u201d person.<\/strong> I will tell you that this very principle is primary, paramount, and nonnegotiable! The Holy Bible teaches that any money–or crop from a field–that comes to us must be properly \u201ctithed.\u201d In accordance with that teaching, a Believer in God should always give back to God ten percent of any money that comes to him…10% of all of his gross personal increase.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This tithing principle should be taught to children very early in their lives:<\/span>
\n \u201cEvery dollar you ever get: give ten percent to God, save another ten percent and invest it wisely, and then live on the remaining balance.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t live on eighty cents out of every dollar earned, then you are living above and beyond your means,…you are living too high. Immediately scale down your personal living standard–or go out and earn more additional money. You can do that! Trust God. Give Him His share first, and He\u2019ll more than repay you!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I will tell you the truth,…God is a very generous God! You as a mortal can never out-give Him.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Peace and Love to All of You………………Poppa Bear<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most discussed subjects within the Holy Bible is money: How to make it, how to manage it, how to save it, and how to wisely spend it, and how to correctly invest it. God brings this subject … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2125"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2130,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125\/revisions\/2130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}