The Daily – “What about your Money?”
I was sitting in the passenger seat of our car while we were driving home from the beach the other day, listening to one of my favorite bands, Seventh Day Slumber sing: Take Everything. As I was singing along, “Jesus Take Everything…” and wanting to offer my everything, I clearly heard the Lord say to me; “What about your Money”?
I was shocked to hear Him at that moment. I was shocked by the question. My heart ached at the gentle loving tone of it…
It caused me to do some major self reflection.
Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money, including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions, and be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down, or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! – Hebrews 13:5 (amplified)
You see, I am not selfish. I will give to the needy, share, and even put money on the offering plate at church. However, I desire certain things and I lack trust in God when it comes to FULLY granting Him access to “my” money.
My Desires.
I want things I do not have…
Since I was a little girl, I have wanted a home. We lived in missions, cars, whatever. I tell myself I have been through a lot, I “should” be able to have my own home! I want my own home with a yard and nice neighborhood!
I would really like a second car so I am not stuck in the house all day while my husband works.
I want to keep getting things that make me happy…
I like getting my hair done. It makes me feel good about myself.
I love to eat out. It is one of my favorite things to do…even though it is like flushing money down the toilet…literally…I still give in.
OK, so none of these things are “bad” in and of themselves. However, sometimes, I find my thoughts consumed with my flesh-minded earthly desires to the point that I get possessive with what is not mine to begin with. Money. ALL money belongs to God. It is ALL His. Yet, we…I…will take ownership of it and deny Him what is His anyway!
My Trust.
When I look at the numbers and think about tithing, it is very difficult for me to put 10% in the offering plate. My husband has absolutely NO problem with it. I am the one who struggles.
It is VERY difficult for me to admit my issues with y’all when I write these daily devotionals. However, I feel God gently nudging me to do so. Please understand, I BELIEVE that tithing is Biblical. I KNOW God loves me and has provided for me all my life. Yet…I find myself taking control away from Him…still.
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men–extortioners, robbers, swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers–or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.
But the tax collector, merely standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable, be gracious, be merciful to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am!
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted. – Luke 18:10-14 (amplified)
You see, my husband shared some profound insight with me when I shared what God had said to me. As we spoke about it, he told me that it is not about 10, 20, 30 or even 50 percent. It is about our hearts. God gave us a number, 10%, as a starting point. It is all His. He does not “need” our measly ten percent. It is about trusting Him, obeying Him and an act of worship. Yes, giving is an act of worship. It says; “I love You, Lord. I trust You and know that YOU will sustain me! I will not put my trust in mammon!”
My husband will not give more than I can handle. I am amazed by this. It scares me on one level that I may be robbing him and my family of blessings because I cannot do 10%. He feels he is still being obedient…
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV)
You see, I am not quite “there” yet. However, I AM able to give what we give cheerfully. I have just not reached the standard God set…yet. We are closer though…more than five percent but less than ten. However, after hearing God CLEARLY say to me; “What about your Money?”, as I sang Take Everything, I am convinced it is a TRUST issue. The closer I get to Him in my walk, the more He reveals Himself to me, and the more He shows me my need for Him! He loves me SO profoundly and is more patient with me than I deserve…
“What about your Money?”
I prayed and prayed…God help me!
He did! I will share tomorrow the life-changing impact a precious little woman from Africa had on me!
Let’s Pray;
Daddy God, I love You so very much. Forgive me for not trusting You completely with what is already Yours. I want to give You my all, my everything…including my checkbook! Help me to live in light of eternity and not allow myself to be overcome by the desires and possessions of this world! Thank You for loving me and for Your patience and mercy. Thank You for blessing us always. Thank You for Your gentle and quiet voice that pierces my heart! I love You, Daddy! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!
Homework:
I have included several Scriptures on the topic of money and provision! Look them up. Check the references. Study and find the ONLY TREASURE you will ever need in the Truth of God’s Word!!!
- Matthew 19:16-24
- Luke 16:11
- Matthew 6:24
- Matthew 6:31-33
- Malachi 3:10
- Acts 8:20
- Ecclesiastes 5:10
- Matthew 22:21
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Matthew 23:23
- Luke 6:30
- Matthew 25:35-40
- Luke 21:1-4
- 1 Timothy 6:10
Memorize: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
Praying for you sweetie! Sometimes we need to act obediently simply because we know it is what God wants us to do. In the Bible He says to test Him on the money thing, it is the only time we are invited by God to test Him. I do know your struggle though. We have been tithing 10% faithfully for awhile now, and back in December we felt God telling us to give more and bump it up to 15%, lol! Well we did in December, and WOW did He provide! But then stopped in January, and just this month I finally let go of the control and submitted to the call to tithe 15% and it hurts, a lot! SO I know your struggle, but He is faithful. ;)
I just discovered this website tonight, & wow! Thanks so much for opening up & being so transparent. This is also an issue that my husband & I struggle with. We believe in tithing, we know it works, but at the same time..our faith isn’t “there”…YET. The scripture in Corinthians says to give “cheerfully” & we simply cannot give what our faith doesn’t back up, “cheerfully.”
You have given me strength to keep pressing forward to build our faith & trust in him..and a sense of honor of what we DO give instead of feeling ashamed about what we do NOT give.
Thanks again & God Bless.