Robbing God’s Resources

Description

• Since God cannot change, He is the one stable thing in this universe upon which we can rely (3:6).
• If your proximity to God seems detached, it is always because you created the distance (3:6-7).
• A tithe is giving a tenth of one’s income to continue religious work (3:8).
• A contribution is offering extra gifts at specific times or for particular causes (3:8).
• Refusing to use God’s resources for God’s agenda is robbing Him of that which He entrusted to you (3:9).
• Making meager offerings to God reveals that you have minimal trust in His ability to provide (3:10).
• Being generous with what you have shows God that you can be entrusted to steward more (3:11-12).

Application

• Our willingness to give is not hindered by what stuff we own but what stuff owns us.
• When you give to get, you aren’t trying to make an offering but trying to strike a deal.
• Your spiritual health cannot be isolated from your financial generosity.
• God doesn’t have the right to only 10% of your income, for He is responsible for 100% of it.
• The 10% commandment was intended to be a starting line rather than a giving ceiling.
• Ministry work is not funded by identical gifts but by similar generosity.
• Would you consider giving regularly and incrementally to the work of a local church?