"What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" In these deep words from Christ to His disciples in Matthew 16:26, He was illuminating to them the temporary nature of this life on earth, and to not to allow the affection for it to rule over their love for God.
Earlier in Matthew 6:24, Jesus said "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
So why is this post titled "It Takes Money"? Because in the proper handling of our money, we are able to express our faith unto God, that His Word is true and that we trust Him. The first way we are able to do so is in tithes and offerings.
In Proverbs 3:9 it is written "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." We can say that we honor the Lord, but it is by obedience in giving according to His Word that we are proving so. It takes money to do that, brought about by our faith and love in Him. If you are not tithing, it does not take more money to do so - as we may be deceiving ourselves, it takes putting things in the correct order.
Simply put, we place the Lord first by allotting to Him our tithes and offerings first - before we write out checks or make payments to other things. You may think those other payments are important, but none of those other recipients of our funds will do for us what is promised by the Lord for those who are faithful in tithing in Malachi 3:
"I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing there will not be room enough to store it"
"I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field"
Regarding His promises above for being faithful in tithes, God speaks in a rare way... He says "Test me in this". The Hebrew word is bachan, which means to prove. The Lord is emphasizing His ability and willingness to respond to our faith in this area, even going to the degree of challenging us to test him.
We can be a blessing by giving our time to other persons or ministries. In your giving of money to others and ministries, it is a good and obedient act to do in itself, and be encouraged that we are also promised this - "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) It takes money to do our part in that promise.
If you feel there is too little money in your wallet for tithes, giving to others and ministries, you have two choices (1) find a way to bring more money in (2) examine your heart and your spending, considering these words from Jesus:
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34)
If there is an imbalance, we can come to God and confess that we have missed the mark. We can ask as David asked in Psalm 51:10, to "create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me." The Lord will respond to that prayer, and show you the areas of spending that can be adjusted, allowing you to tithe and give in obedience.
After you've responded in faith and love, and then sensed the peace from God that comes from obedience while seeing Him faithful in keeping His promises to you for doing so there is simply no turning back. You've added another pillar of strength that reinforces how real God is, the truth of His Word and how He loves you and only desires the best for you as His child.
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
