Mine.
It’s one of the first words we understand as children. From the moment we begin to understand the concept of possession, selfishness becomes part of our nature.
No, you can’t have that toy. That’s mine. No, I don’t want to share it with them. It’s mine.
Not to piggyback on a cliché, but — ahem — sharing is caring. We must give to others because we care. But this is a concept many struggle with throughout their lives, namely in the form of financial giving and sacrifice.
All that we have belongs to God, especially our money and treasures. He is the one who blesses us with increase, no matter how hard we may have worked for it. It’s the Lord who gives us abilities and opportunities to receive financial blessings. And when we refuse to give what He’s blessed us with back to Him, we’re stealing from Him.
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”
Malachi 3:8 KJV
Not only are we robbing God when we refuse to give Him a mere ten percent of our increase, but we’re also depriving ourselves and others of blessings. The more we hold onto our money and treasures and say, “Mine,” the more we make idols of them. We cannot serve two masters.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24 KJV
The love of money is the root of all evil. If you’re having a difficult time giving your treasures to God and His Kingdom, perhaps it’s because you love it more than you love God – perhaps it’s because you trust money more than God or perhaps it’s because you aren’t really invested in His Kingdom.
“Tithing is not a bill or tax. It’s obedience. It’s an act of faith.”
Tony Wyatt Jr.
You love God, you say, but you can’t do what He asks you to do. You love His Kingdom, you say, but don’t want to give to support its growth. You trust the Lord, you say, but when times are tough, you withhold more from God rather than let Him be your Provider.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 KJV
I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread (see Psalm 37:25). It rains on the just and unjust, and we will all struggle with financial difficulty, but when we still give to the Lord what is His even in tough times, we’re showing how much we truly trust and love Him. And He will take care of our needs every time.
Loving money more than trusting God will lead you down a selfish path. If you withhold from God financially, chances are you’ll withhold from Him in other areas. Greed takes many forms. Treasure is more than just money.
If you refuse to obey God’s command and give to Him and His Kingdom, how else will you refuse Him? You can be greedy with your time. You can be greedy with your talents. You can be greedy with the blessings He’s given you.
“The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:20-24 KJV
The greedy person reaps the refusal of God, but the giving person reaps acceptance into His Glory.
Give not just your money but your time, your talents, your blessings, your love, your abilities – give yourself to God, to His Kingdom, and to reach your community.
What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world but lose his own soul? (See Mark 8:34-37)
Give yourself away to God, and He will provide for your every need and bless you with greater abundance in life’s blessings than the world could ever promise to give.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…”
Luke 6:38a KJV
BONUS:
Here are 7 good financial habits that we went over in our Sunday morning Hyphen/young adult class a few Sundays ago. Write these down and start working today on applying them to your life:
- Budget
- Pay your bills on time
- Don’t go into needless debt
- Give & pay your tithes
- Save
- Plan for the future
- Write down your financial goals
Breathe. Pray. Repeat. 