Tithes & Offerings ~3 --- God is the SOURCE of My Money!

Tithes & Offerings ~3
God Is The SOURCE Of My Money!

By Pastor Gary Wayne

In this series, I want to emphasize our heart in pursuit of Father’s heart and the role that finances can play in that pursuit.

Review: Part 1 “It’s A Heart Thing!”
When it comes to God’s instructions concerning finances, my obedience dealing with money is not about money, but about my heart in pursuit of His heart.

In Part 2 “First Things First!” I don’t give God the leftovers, but I give to Him from the first of my increase.
Nothing speaks louder than money as to where my heart is. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mt 6:21
Following God’s way of getting ahead financially just doesn’t make sense to my normal reasoning. How cay I get ahead by giving away 10% of my increase?
God’s ways are not man’s ways. When I’m obedient to His instructions, miracles happen.

In parable of the Sower, what is it that Jesus says chokes the Word of God out of me? Mar 4:18-19 "Now these are the (seeds) sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

The book of Philippians was written because of an offering. The people in Philippi gave into Paul’s ministry, so He wrote them this letter.
Text: Philippians 4:10-20

What is the main point of v.17?
Paul was telling them their gift was important, but its not the main point.
What is most important is the fruit in your life that comes as a result of being a giver.

God doesn’t need my money, rather I need to learn to give.
Giving releases something inside us.
Giving releases something from God towards us. (Mal.3:10-11)
Obedience in giving supernaturally produces spiritual fruit.
The opposite is also true - being unfruitful can be a result of someone who is not a giver.

Lu 16:10-12 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? (NIV)

God wants to bless me! But if my character isn’t strong enough to carry His blessings, then His blessings would hurt me.
I believe God uses finances to let me see where my character is, and if I am maturing enough to be trusted with His real increase – His real treasures.

Ver.18
Often our normal thinking is that it’s the amount that is important - the larger the amount, the better God likes it. Human thinking.
What matters to God? The sacrifice, the heart involved in the giving.
The attitude of my heart is what God looks at.

The only offerings that Jesus commented about were given by a widow and a former prostitute.
In God’s value system, both offerings were of high value, but the actual monitorial amount of the offering was not what caught His attention – it was the heart.

Do you know that our giving smells? God is smelling it, He is not tallying it.

Ver.19 What is the main point?
If I don’t get this point, where do I think my finances come from? Luck? My hard work? My intellect? I invested well? Coincidence? etc.

Knowing God is my source changes the way I feel about money.
If I understand I am a steward of His assets involved in Kingdom work, assigned by Him to fulfill His heart in the place He has put me to minister, what do I do when it looks like I have run out of money?
I go to Him – the sources of my finances.
What do I do when an unexpected bill shows up? The washer breaks down? My car blows up?
I go to the Him and say, “God You have a problem here.”
Read ver.19 again.

God is the source of EVERYTHIHNG I have.