One of the reasons people don’t have enough, according to the Bible, is because they don’t give enough away. As it says in Proverbs 11:24, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borroweth and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.”

You “give” to get, not “keep” to get. Giving is not God’s way of raising money. He doesn’t need your money; this church doesn’t need your money.

He really wants to do something for you, but He can’t if you’re stingy. If you can’t trust Him with your finances, how can He trust you with His blessings?
The proper Christian handling of your finances, according to the biblical principle of tithing, is the key to spiritual fruit in your life. Jesus said, in Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” If you aren’t faithful with money, do you really think God can use you with souls and spiritual blessings?

How you handle your money is just like everything else-- how you treat your spouse, how you train your children, how you work on the job, how you maintain your prayer life and Bible study. All this is an indicator of your spiritual life. Money is no different from the rest. The credibility of your Christianity is manifested in the handling of your funds.

Pastor Jerry Osborne
Community Bible Church, 1952-1997

Reprinted January 8, 2012