2 Corinthians 9:6-11
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
If we only plant a few seed then we will only get back a little to eat. However, if we plant a lot of see then we will get back a lot to eat.
Another words if we give a little we will only receive a little. I have seen many times over the years growing up in a pastor's home that often times Dad would give money to someone or into the church at times when he did not have a lot to give. I would hear him talking about how he could not afford to do something yet he would give money besides his tithes to the church or someone in need.
I could not see what God was really doing because of my blindness and age. We would be sitting at home about to eat dinner when there would be a knock at the door. When Dad came back into the table he would have sacks of food that someone had left at the door.
I can remember people would also drop off Onions, Tomatoes, Okra, Cucumbers and other fruits and vegetables that they had grown at home.
God never failed Dad and Mom when they would give out of the kindness of their hearts. He never complained and we always had what we needed and what we wanted.
1 Kings 17:1-7
17 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
God Is Your Provider
When we see Elijah here we see a good man of God. God told Elijah to tell Ahab that there would be no more dew or rain except at Elijah's word. So, in other words Elijah proclaims a drought.
Then we see that God tells him to leave and go to the brook will God will provide his water and food. The ravens would bring him bread and meat.
Malachi 3:10
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.
There is many questions around tithing and giving that I have heard over the years.
The truth is that God said try Me and He will open up the windows of heaven for you and that He will poor out more blessings than you can handle.
I have seen people poor a lot of money into 401K's and Investments and often times they will lose almost more than they will gain. Why? Because this is not a blessing of God but, a mere chance or a gamble of what you might or might not receive.
When I was working on the fuel truck at Rodman there was a man that would spend over $1000 every 2 weeks to buy lottery tickets and scratch off's. However, he would lose that for weeks until he might finally win $5,000 to $8,000 dollars. When you looked at what he had spent before he won that he had probably spend some $10,000 to $13,000 dollars.
When you give to God he said that He would poor out His blessing on you, more than you could handle. I would say the odds are 100% better with God.
1 Kings 17:8-16 It says that Elijah went to a widow women's house that God sent him too and ask for her to make him a cake and bring him some water. She told Elijah that she did not have but enough flour and oil to make her and her son a cake that they would eat and then die.
Elijah said that God would provide if she would make him the cake and that is what she did. When that was said and done God never let her flour or her oil run dry.
When you give what God ask you to give then God will provide.
Over a month ago I lost my second job where I was making pretty good money. My wife and I have been talking about it for 2 years that I need to become a full-time pastor. We felt like God said if you can't make that decision then I will. So, I lost my job and have now been a full time Pastor for over a month.
God Has Provided
I recently received a severance package from that job and the first thing I did was take the 10% and paid my tithes. And I still pay my tithes off of what I make from the church or even if someone hands me money to go eat lunch on. And since then my account has never run out of money. My God will provide if you will do what he ask of you.
Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
God will provide more than just money. We have had people pay for our breakfast, lunch, & dinner. We have had people hand us money. We have even had gas put in our tank.
Learn to put your trust in God. You may say that you do not have the money to be paying tithes. But, I ask you how do you not give what God ask of you.