I’ve heard people say for years, “Pastor,
if I ever hit the lottery or strike it big with my business, then I’ll start giving
to God’s Church.” Who are they kidding? Giving doesn’t start by being
prosperous. Did you know the average personal income in the State of
Mississippi is the second lowest in the United States, yet that State is
ranked 6th in charitable giving. By contrast, New Hampshire is ranked
6th in average personal income, but guess where they rank in charitable giving-
45th! A big income doesn't mean you have a big
heart!
Henry Ward Beecher warned
that prosperity could actually make us less
likely to give: "Watch, lest prosperity destroy generosity." People
in the United States live in the most prosperous country in the world, during
the most prosperous time in its history, yet only 2.5 percent of their income
goes to charity; that's lower than it was during the Great Depression!
If you
desire to become a more generous person, don't wait for your income to change, change your heart! Jesus said; “For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) When we get to heaven, some of the
greatest words I’ll ever hear will be, “Danny, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant.” Is that what He will say when you stand at The Judgment Seat
of Christ? I’m not trying to provoke fear, but friend, if you’re born again and
you want to hear Christ say to you, “Well done,” think about your GIVING
Right Now!
When you
get to heaven it will be too late to say, “Lord, I wanted to bring my tithes to
Your House, but I was fearful.” It will be too late to say, “God, I desired to
give to missions so people could hear the Gospel in China, Japan, Vietnam, Haiti
and other places in the world, but I wasn’t sure how I would pay my electric,
the mortgage and put food on the table. Excuses will be judged harshly, Look at
the servant in (Matt:25:18 ) who hid his
treasure and did NOTHING! GIVE NOW not later. You say; “Danny, is Christ
really watching my giving?” The widow woman placed two coins in the offering at
the temple, Jesus sat near the collection box watching and said, “Today
she has given more than the rest because she gave all she had.” “YES,” He is
watching.
The first
five minutes in heaven you will be saying, “I’m sure glad my preacher told me
the truth about what I should do with my income on earth. A lot of people fear the IRS because they know
that they have to give an account of their taxes during the year. Jesus said,
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are
God’s.” Will He open THE BOOKS of our GIVING to Him? Absolutely, And any skittish
preacher not telling you the truth should be reminded that preachers will also
stand accountable on the Day of Judgment!
Paul didn’t
hold back telling the Corinthians in
Chapter 16:2 “Now I will write about the
collection of money for God’s people. Do the same thing I told the Galatian
churches to do: 2 On the first day of every week, each one of
you should put aside money as you have been blessed.” Are you putting aside the
FIRST PART, the TITHE that belongs to God? Do it with JOY friend and you
will see the heavens open up over your life! There’s only one place in the Bible
where God says; “PROVE ME if I will not open to you the windows of heaven.” (Malachi 3:10) Move beyond the ordinary
and walk into the extraordinary and WATCH GOD act on your behalf with
BLESSINGS.
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