A few years ago, I desperately needed a permanent, decent and well paying job. So I took it to God in prayer. I prayed and made a vow to God that if He'd give me that job I'd give Him all my salary for the first month. Hehe, desperate times calls for desperate actions besides, I had heard that if I needed a miracle from God it was necessary to give a seed offering (not a bad idea, but the motive!)
Months later on March 24th 2008, I got my present job and my April salary was supposed to be all for God. Unfortunately when I got th cash, honestly I was even operating on deficit, meaning I wasn't able to give the whole salary to God as I had promised Him (felt guilty) but I kept telling God I would still honor my vow and bring a whole month salary, don't know when but someday I'd do it. Eh,this was really difficult thing to do especially now that I had the job and I seemed to have innumerable expenses and bills to pay.
Fast forward, years later I still didn't manage to honor my vow. Over the years my salary tripled and one day I woke up feeling that God had blessed me so much-with good health, family and so much favor and grace was upon me and I was still willing to bring my whole month salary to God. But would this be possible especially now that my salary had tripled? I just bowed my head down and said, "God, You have been so generous to me. My salary has tripled since the 1st year of my employment. I know it's harder to give You now than back then but am willing and ready to give/honor you with my firstfruit. Am not giving You because I am manipulating You to give something more but because am grateful that I have traveled along way with You. Please receive my thanksgiving offering." I took the money, a whole month salary and brought it to God's house. God has remained generous, faithful and gracious to me. I don't know about you but so many times God has tested me on the area of finances. There are months I failed to pay my tithes and promised God the next month I'd pay double but that was just difficult to do. I reached a point and I purposed no matter how financially unstable I am, I'll never fail to pay my tithes and offerings. I want to be faithful with small and even when I have much. I must say for sure God has continued to rebuke the devourer for me.
Let me turn my attention to three people from the book of Acts chapter 4:37; and chapter 5. Barnabas had sold his property and brought ALL the money at the feet of the apostles. Ananias and Saphira too sold their property and brought part of the proceeds at the feet of the apostles and lied that it was ALL. The other details you know, they died!
So what am I leading at? The way you spend your money, the attitude you have towards money reflect your values. The New Testament has more verses that talk about possession and money than about heaven and hell. Of Jesus' 38 parables, 16 parables or so deal with Money and Possessions. Why? Of cos where your treasure is there your heart will also be, Matthew 6:21.
Paying our tithes should be our priority as soon as we receive our income. Tithes should be paid faithfully, willingly and cheerfully. If you are not faithful with the little you have, even when you have more it will be difficult for you to give. Also giving God our firstfruit is biblical but should never be used to manipulate God to do us a favor. A thanksgiving offering too, is biblical and should be done out of an overflow of gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done.
May God help and teach us to pay our tithes, give our offerings-thanksgiving offerings as well as firstfruit offerings with an attitude of gratitude and love. May we learn that we are only stewards and God alone owns all that we have. Silver and gold is His. The earth and everything thereof is His so is the cattle upon a thousand hills.
God loves a cheerful giver.
With love,
Kachel Nzaku
With love,
Kachel Nzaku
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