The Chair
Find a chair in your room that has four legs. Now, sit in it. This design was thought out in advance to support your weight. Each chair is designed and built for the purpose of holding a person’s weight while they eat, talk, plan, etc. Each church has a design and a purpose that is given to it by God.
What would happen if you removed three of the four legs from your chair and continued to try to sit in it? Try it. How does that work for you? Some might be able to make it work, but they won’t be able to concentrate on the purpose of the day like reading or eating, etc. The focus will be on balancing so as not to fall.
Unfortunately, this is the case with our churches. They were designed, like the chair, to support you in your purpose: SOULS. Since less than 10 percent of church attendees tithe (give 10% of their income each month to the ministry), the pastor is focused more on staying balanced (financially) than he is winning souls.
The pastor doesn’t know if the note can be paid, the electric bill, the missions pledge, etc. because he is sitting in a chair created to have 4 legs but operating on less than one! Most churches support the entire work of the ministry on the tithe of 10% of those who attend. Unstable.
Think with me what could be done if all of us who say we have given our lives to Christ, would give our lives to Christ.
The potential to change the world and see the impact that an obedient heart creates is huge. We can do this. How do we start?
First, you and I commit to tithe now, today. Then teach and influence your children, your brothers, parents, closest friends that are believers. Non-believers do not tithe, that’s because they still have a selfish heart that’s not yet born again. Giving is an important sign that tells us where our heart/spirit resides. This is important since the Word clearly states that God commands us to judge ourselves so that we won’t be judged guilty by Him (1 Corinthians 11:31).
2 Corinthians 5:17 reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Question: If you are a new creation and old things have passed away, like selfishness and a stony heart, why are these things still present? A sure sign that you are saved is that you are no longer stingy but you exhibit a generous heart. You are a new creation in that you now value people more than money!
“People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart” –Proverbs 21:2 NLT
The King sets the minimum at ten percent so we all know where our heart is according to Him. After all, He is the final judge!
You can give without loving but you will never be able to love without giving! John 3:16 proclaims, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only son.” Loving and giving are inseparable! Isn’t He worth a dime?
The tithe is an indicator that we believe and that we are saved. It also guarantees our protection and provision (Malachi 3:10).
Isn’t this a good time to TEST HIM?
This is an excerpt from chapter six in my book Test Me: The Malachi Mystery. Click here to get it today.
I am including a short video on this topic that you can watch and share with your colleagues: