
One of the most dangerous and false teachings of the Bible out there today is the belief that when you believe in the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will be wealthy, and your life will be no suffering. This can lead to confusion and anxiety, especially when financial struggles and suffering are present. However, God's love and care for us are not measured by our wealth. He never promised us wealth in this world, but Jesus said, "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be (Matthew 6:19-21)." False teachers may use tithe and offerings as the means for abundant life, but true abundance comes from our relationship with God, not our material possessions. Giving is an act of worship and thankfulness before the Lord. We give not to get something from the Lord, but we give as an act of our appreciation towards God because we acknowledge His goodness in our lives and we want to express our worship to Him.
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If our heart is about what we can get from God and not about making Him our Lord and Master in our lives, God will not bless our giving, no matter the amount. The sad part about this false teaching is that many people believe it and are manipulated by the false teachers as a result. God does not need our money. He wants our surrendered hearts. Jesus describes to us what it means to be a follower of our Lord Jesus, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24)." Taking up our cross means that there is suffering to follow Jesus. Let us look at the apostles that God had chosen. They all suffered and gave up wealth in this world to follow Jesus. As the apostles and the early believers lived their lives sacrificially, so we should be. As far as those God blessed with wealth, like Lydia in the book of Acts (Acts 16), they used their wealth to bless God by supporting God's work.Â
Wealth and possessions do not determine a spiritually blessed life. We can be poor, yet we are spiritually abundantly blessed. Wealth is not evil, but when it replaces God in our hearts, then wealth becomes our idol.Â
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Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is the true teaching of giving (tithe and offerings)? How do I become spiritually blessed? Am I allowing wealth and possessions to become my idol?Â
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Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
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Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, You are the giver of blessings, and you bless those whose hearts are yours. Please protect my heart from allowing wealth and possessions to become my idol. When I give my tithe and offering, I will give as an expression of my love and appreciation to you, and not to get something from you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.Â
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