Our Heavenly Father desires that we experience prosperity in our life. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (III John 2). Knowing this as God’s born again children, how can we tap into God’s prosperity?
The answer is rather simple. By giving.
God is our example of giving. He has unloaded on us, as His children, an astounding amount of goodies! We have eternal life and many other sonship rights and privileges. These spiritual realities, though free to us, did not come free to Him. He paid a dear price:
I Peter 1:18 & 19:
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
What do we do to receive material abundance from God? God did not invent investment vehicles such at the stock market. He instituted the simple but the dynamic law of giving. Sure we can partake of wall street and try our luck in Las Vegas, but if we really want prosperity that will have the most significance in our life, we will need to do it God’s way. And His way is giving.
Giving to God opens up the windows of heaven for Him to pour out many riches upon us. The Old Testament people were robbing God by not giving their tithes of 10% and offerings (that were given after the 10%). The solution was simple for them: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10). You might be thinking about this time, “Let me go back to the Old Testament times to cash in!”
If the results of giving were so fantastic during the Old Testament times, It must really be colossal for us as beneficiaries of the New Testament realities. If tithing opens the flood gates of God’s abundance, then what incredible results can we expect with New Testament giving?
God has invested heavily in you through His precious son. He bought you with a price. “Know ye not…ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price.” (I Corinthians 6:19 & 20). This opens a whole new standard of giving.
II Corinthians 9: 6 & 7:
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Our attitude in giving is vital. It is one of cheerfulness. It is a joy to give. We are so thankful for all the tremendous things that God has done for us. Just the reality that He bought us for eternity is astounding. We should not be on the take, but on the give! Giving should be our main thing. Do you want to be rich? Give! How much do I give? The best place to start is the tithe 10%. That should be the minimum, the starting point for God children.
In conclusion, the key to prosperity is giving. It is that simple. God gives, His son gives, all that God created gives, the sun gives, the moon gives, the ocean gives, the trees give. God created man to give. Be on the give and expect God’s magnificent response!
- Bob Lindfelt
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