AUGUEST THEME – “Seeing Revival From God’s Perspective”
Join us in prayer and celebration as Belmont Baptist Church celebrates our Year of Jubilee, marking fifty years of God’s amazing faithfulness and looking forward with grateful hearts to all He has yet to do.
BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
IT IS EASIER TO PUT SPENDING BEFORE STEWARDSHIP
Malachi 3:10, “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…”
One of the greatest spiritual battles is not over whether we will spend money—but over what will come first. It is always easier to pay every bill, satisfy every desire, make every purchase, and then see if anything is left for God. Yet God’s pattern has never been to receive our leftovers. He asks for our firstfruits because first place in our finances reveals first place in our hearts. Every dollar that passes through our hands is an opportunity to worship Him or to depend solely upon ourselves. Long before God measures the amount we give, He examines the attitude and priority with which we give it.
It Is Easier to Trust What We Can See
Bills arrive with deadlines. Unexpected expenses appear without warning. Advertisements constantly convince us that we need just one more thing. All of these seem urgent and visible. God’s promises, however, require faith. Tithing and Faith Promise giving declare, “Lord, I trust Your provision more than my calculations.” That is why giving has always been a faith issue more than a financial one. Our eyes naturally focus on what is leaving our wallet instead of what God has promised to supply. Faith lifts our eyes beyond today’s balance and rests in the character of a God who has never failed His children.
The First Portion Belongs to God
Throughout Scripture, God established the principle of firsts. Israel gave the firstfruits. The firstborn belonged to Him. Jesus taught us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God.” God never intended to be one expense among many. He is to be honored first. When we deliberately place Him first, we acknowledge that everything we possess already belongs to Him. Giving God the first portion is a declaration that He is Lord over every remaining portion as well. It reminds us that we are not owners but stewards who have been entrusted with His resources for His purposes.
Faith Promise Is an Act of Worship
Faith Promise missions giving goes beyond what we can comfortably afford. It is saying, “Lord, I believe You can provide through me what I cannot provide on my own.” It is not giving from abundance but giving in dependence. Every missionary supported, every soul reached, and every church planted becomes an eternal investment that far outlives every earthly purchase. Every gift is a reminder that the gospel is more valuable than our temporary comforts. One day in heaven we may meet people from around the world whose lives were changed because we trusted God enough to give by faith.
What We Keep Will Eventually Leave Us
Every dollar we spend on ourselves eventually disappears. Clothes wear out. Cars depreciate. Technology becomes obsolete. Houses remain behind. But every dollar invested in God’s work continues producing eternal fruit long after we leave this world. Jesus reminded us to lay up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts. The only investments we take into eternity are those that have been invested in people and in the kingdom of God. Wise stewards live with eternity’s values in view, realizing that what is surrendered to God is never truly lost.
Heartbeat
It is easier to put spending before stewardship, but it is far wiser to put God first. Every paycheck becomes an opportunity to declare, “Lord, You are my Provider, and I trust You more than my bank account.” When God has first place in our finances, He usually has first place everywhere else. Generosity is not merely about dollars; it is a reflection of a heart that has learned to trust God completely. The greatest blessing of giving is not what it does for God’s work, but what it does within us as it teaches us to depend on Him.
Warfare Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have treated giving to You as an afterthought instead of a priority. Teach me to honor You with the firstfruits of all You have entrusted to me. Increase my faith to trust You through tithes and Faith Promise giving, believing that no investment compares with what is done for Your kingdom. Help me remember that everything I have comes from You and belongs to You. When fear whispers that I cannot afford to obey, remind me that I cannot afford to distrust the One who has always been faithful. May my giving become an act of joyful worship and a testimony that You alone are my Provider. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Before you spend a single dollar today, pause and thank God for being your Provider. Ask yourself, “Does the way I use my money reveal that Christ truly has first place in my heart?” If you have not already done so, honor God with your tithe and prayerfully renew your Faith Promise commitment. Then look for one practical way to invest in eternity today—whether by giving, helping someone in need, or supporting the spread of the gospel. Let every financial decision become an opportunity to say, “Lord, everything I have belongs to You, and I choose to put You first.”
FRIDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS
Pastor Steve Craig – Pray For His Family & His Church In His Passing
I will have a procedure on my back today at 8:00am! thank you for your prayers!
Rob Davis – cancer
Mary Williams – Rehab for Broken Hip
Kim McClain’s Mother