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’S
IT’S EASIER TO LEAVE GOD A TIP THAN TO GIVE HIM THE TITHE
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…” — Malachi 3:10
We understand the difference between a tip and a tithe everywhere except sometimes when it comes to God. A tip is something I decide to give based upon what I have left, how generous I feel, or what I think I can spare. But the word tithe means a tenth. A tithe is not an amount I invent after examining my expenses; it is a biblical proportion that acknowledges God first. A tip asks, “What can I spare?” A tithe asks, “What belongs to God?” A tip begins with me deciding what God receives; a tithe begins with recognizing what God has said. The real issue, however, goes much deeper than money. The question is not merely how much of my money God has, but how much of ME God has.
IT’S EASIER TO GIVE GOD WHAT IS LEFT THAN TO GIVE HIM WHAT IS FIRST
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.” — Proverbs 3:9. Most of us would never intentionally say, “Lord, everybody else comes before You,” but our finances can say exactly that. The paycheck comes, the mortgage gets paid, the car payment gets paid, groceries are purchased, subscriptions are charged, we eat out, buy what we want, and take care of everything we consider necessary. Then we look at what remains and decide what we can afford to give God. But Scripture teaches the opposite order: firstfruits. God is not supposed to be another bill somewhere near the bottom of my list. Giving Him first place says, “Lord, before I spend what You have provided, I acknowledge You as the One who provided it.” It is possible to sing, “Jesus is Lord of all,” on Sunday while our spending tells a completely different story during the week. What I do FIRST often reveals who really comes FIRST.
THE TITHE IS ABOUT MORE THAN MONEY; IT IS ABOUT MY HEART
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” — Matthew 6:21. God does not need my money; He already owns everything. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” — Haggai 2:8. Giving is spiritual before it is financial because money has an unusual ability to reveal what I trust. When I honor God first, I am saying, “God, You are my Source. You are my Provider. You are my security. I trust You more than I trust what is in my bank account.” Suppose God allows $1,000 of increase to come into my hands. A tenth is $100. The deeper question is not merely, “Can I afford to give God $100?” but, “Do I trust God enough to manage the remaining $900 His way?” The tithe does not merely discipline my giving; it disciplines my living. Sometimes the problem is not that I need more income. Sometimes my spending has expanded until there is no room for obedience. Maybe I don’t need more money; maybe I need more surrender.
I AM NOT THE OWNER; I AM THE STEWARD
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2. There is an enormous difference between an owner and a steward. An owner says, “This is mine; what do I want to do with it?” A steward says, “This belongs to another; what does the Owner want me to do with it?” That perspective changes everything. My house, automobile, paycheck, savings, retirement, abilities, opportunities, and possessions have all been entrusted to me by God. Even the strength and ability that enabled me to earn what I possess came from Him. Therefore, when I tithe, I am not doing God a favor; I am acknowledging His ownership. And stewardship does not end after the tithe. I cannot return the first tenth and then say, “Now the rest belongs to me to do whatever I please.” The tithe acknowledges His ownership, and then I ask Him how He wants me to manage what remains. God is not merely Lord of what I GIVE—He is Lord of what I KEEP.
Imagine being invited into the presence of a great king who provided your home, food, clothing, employment, opportunities, protection, and everything you possess. You walk into his throne room, reach into your pocket, find a few dollars you will not miss, place them before him, and say, “Here, King. This is for You.” Something about that picture immediately feels inappropriate because you do not tip a king. Yet we come before Someone infinitely greater than any earthly king. He is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Every breath, ability, opportunity, possession, and dollar ultimately came through His providence. How strange, then, to spend on everyone and everything else and offer Him whatever happens to remain. A tip says, “Thank You for what You did for me.” A tithe says, “You are Lord over everything I have.”
WHAT DOES MY GIVING SAY ABOUT WHO IS LORD?
Perhaps we have been asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, “How much do I have to give God?” perhaps we should ask, “How completely does God have me?” When God has my heart, He will not have to fight my wallet. When God has my heart, giving becomes worship, obedience becomes more important than comfort, and I stop asking how little I can give and begin asking how everything He has entrusted to me can glorify Him. I do not want my lips saying, “Jesus is Lord,” while my finances whisper, “Except here.” I do not want to tip the King. I want everything about my life—including my finances—to declare: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OF EVERYTHING I HAVE.
WARFARE PRAYER
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, expose every place in my heart where money, possessions, comfort, or fear has become more important than obedience. Break the grip of materialism, greed, discontentment, impulsive spending, and the lie that my security is found in what I possess. Forgive me for every time I have given You leftovers while giving myself the first and best. Teach me to honor You with the firstfruits of all my increase. Give me wisdom to distinguish between needs and wants, discipline to live within what You provide, and faith to trust You completely as my Source. Everything I possess belongs to You; make me a faithful steward. May my giving become worship, my spending demonstrate wisdom, and my entire financial life testify to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Lord, I do not want to tip You with my leftovers. I want to honor You with my first and trust You with the rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DAILY CHALLENGE — FIRST OR LEFTOVERS?
Today, look honestly at your giving and ask yourself, “Am I truly honoring God first, or am I simply giving Him an amount that feels comfortable?” When your next increase comes, stop before you spend it. Thank God for providing it, acknowledge that it all belongs to Him, honor Him first, and then look at everything remaining and pray, “Lord, this belongs to You too. How would You have me use it?” Then carry one searching question with you throughout the day: If someone could see only my finances and never hear my words, would they know that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life?
A TIP IS SOMETHING I GIVE GOD FROM WHAT I HAVE LEFT. A TITHE IS ONE WAY I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVERYTHING I HAVE CAME FROM HIM.
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS
Darlene Kelley – Our Cousin _ Recovering from Cancer
Darlene Thaxton
Ginny Ford
Deanne Boynton
Anna Belle Taylor – Irregular Heartbeat – Jackson’s Special Friend
Rob Davis – cancer
Kim McClain’s Mother