Whose money is it?

Mine?

Have you ever been asked the question from the pulpit, "Whose money is it anyway?"

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. (Acts 5:4 NKJV)

But according to the Bible, you can own something; it can belong to you.

“Will a man rob God?

Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say,

‘In what way have we robbed You?’

In tithes and offerings.

⁹ You are cursed with a curse,

For you have robbed Me,

Even this whole nation.

¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,”

Says the Lord of hosts,

“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:8-10 NKJV)

According to the Word of God, the tithe belongs to God, and the rest belongs to the person tithing. So why do so many preachers tell their congregation that "It all belongs to God?" Well, who do you belong to? Like a child actually cannot own anything, so are we as God's children, but through faith we have access to all things. Jesus showed us through many miracles what can be done when we ask the Father. "Ye have not because ye ask not." (James 4:2 KJV) Many people emphasize that we are not to ask for selfish reasons, using something for selfish pleasure, but they fail to emphasize that Jesus commands us to ask. Please remember, when Jesus fed the five thousand, He first looked up to heaven and thanked the Father. Gratitude is shown for something you have asked for and are now receiving. At least it should be.

When we tithe, we are saying thank you to the Father for what we believe he has given us. Thank you for the ability to prosper. Thank you for the ability to have something that is ours to use as we see fit. Tithing is still important today because it proves that we understand that we and all our possessions are gifts from the Father to steward while on this earth. Let us know, "If we are faithful with little, God promises to give us more." (Luke 16:10 NKJV) Now, we CAN ask God for the wisdom to steward well. We CAN allow the Holy Spirit to guide us as to how to "manage the rest." And we CAN be open to allowing God to speak to us when He desires for us to give more than our tithe to the work of the Lord. This is stewarding what God has given us well. When a child is told by their parent to do something with what has been given to them, do they say, "But it's mine!"? Often, but only a child who lacks understanding and gratitude towards their parent.

May we each say, "I am grateful for what God has given me, because I understand that I have it because God has allowed me to have it. He has given me all good things to enjoy. And it is my job to enjoy what He has provided."

My Prayer

Dear Lord,

I write the vision plane. (From Habakkuk 2:2-3) I ask you, Lord, for resources so that I can take care of my family well and help fulfill the visions and plans you have given your children for your kingdom's growth and for your Glorification.

Amen.