This was week three of our "How to be Rich" series. So far, we've seen that if we have more than we need, we are rich. And we've talked about how easy it is for our trust to shift away from God and onto money. But have you ever wondered why God made you rich? The answer is simple. God mad us rich so that we could give more away (2 Corinthians 9:11). So how do you learn to give more?
Most of us are intentional consumers. If we are going to learn to give more, we have to learn to be intentional givers (2 Corinthians 9:7). And the starting point for us is the tithe. The first 10% of all our income belongs to God (Leviticus 27:30). It's holy. It's His. And He instructs us to give it to our local church so that spiritual nourishment can happen through the ministries of the local church (Malachi 3:10). But the power of the tithe isn't really about increasing the church budget. It teaches us to put God first. And it increases our faith. As we give to God first, we learn to trust Him.
If you've already learned to blessing that comes along with giving God His tithe, you're not done yet. The Tithe isn't the ultimate goal...just the starting point. God didn't make you rich so that you can give the minimum...He wants you to excel in giving (2 Corinthians 8:7). So start being creative. Use the skills you've learned to plan your consuming into planning your giving. Pray about it. Talk with your family about it. Investigate. Find the most effective place for you to make a real difference in the world.
God has blessed us with more than we need. We’re rich. We will not trust in our riches, but in Him who richly provides. Because we have more, we’ll give more! That's how to be rich in a way that honors God.
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