Giving from the Heart
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.” (Malachi 3:6-8)
This passage is referring to the entire people of Israel. God is saying, “You have been far from me. Even though I have taken care of you, you have been far from me.”
Scripture says that giving literally reveals, “I am returning to God.” Giving is the mark of a man or a woman who is “returning to God.” This is the fruit of a heart that says the Lord is my priority.
If you want to find out where someone's priority is, just look at their checkbook. That will tell you where their real priorities are. God wants us to have the mentality that we will give it all to Him. If you withhold your money from God, you are withholding your heart.
For many of us, the real problem is a heart problem. Someone came up to me one time and said, “Pastor, my wife and I have talked about this. We prayed about this and decided not to give unless our heart was in it.” I looked at him and said, “No, it’s just the opposite. You need to give because your heart is in it. Your heart will flow where your giving goes.” Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
That is important because your heart and your giving are linked. Giving makes sense when it is accompanied by a repentant heart. Most of us have a problem with giving when our hearts are hard and stubborn, and we are full of ourselves. When our hearts are right with God, giving just flows. If we want to be faithful in our giving, we need to examine our hearts.
Does giving stop at the 10 % tithe? If we consider ourselves to be New Testament Christians, the New Testament style of giving is definitely more than 10%. It is giving over and above tithing. The New Testament standard is overflowing and much more! Everything belongs to the Lord!
Where is your heart at today? Are you able to give from a repentant heart? Or has your heart hardened toward giving? If the latter is true, I encourage you to ask the Lord to soften your heart. With the right heart attitude, you will gladly give as an act of obedience toward our Heavenly Father.
Scripture says that giving literally reveals, “I am returning to God.” Giving is the mark of a man or a woman who is “returning to God.” This is the fruit of a heart that says the Lord is my priority.
If you want to find out where someone's priority is, just look at their checkbook. That will tell you where their real priorities are. God wants us to have the mentality that we will give it all to Him. If you withhold your money from God, you are withholding your heart.
For many of us, the real problem is a heart problem. Someone came up to me one time and said, “Pastor, my wife and I have talked about this. We prayed about this and decided not to give unless our heart was in it.” I looked at him and said, “No, it’s just the opposite. You need to give because your heart is in it. Your heart will flow where your giving goes.” Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
That is important because your heart and your giving are linked. Giving makes sense when it is accompanied by a repentant heart. Most of us have a problem with giving when our hearts are hard and stubborn, and we are full of ourselves. When our hearts are right with God, giving just flows. If we want to be faithful in our giving, we need to examine our hearts.
Does giving stop at the 10 % tithe? If we consider ourselves to be New Testament Christians, the New Testament style of giving is definitely more than 10%. It is giving over and above tithing. The New Testament standard is overflowing and much more! Everything belongs to the Lord!
Where is your heart at today? Are you able to give from a repentant heart? Or has your heart hardened toward giving? If the latter is true, I encourage you to ask the Lord to soften your heart. With the right heart attitude, you will gladly give as an act of obedience toward our Heavenly Father.
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2 Comments
It feels good to give. I love my Lord so I give
I love YOU FATHER. Soften my heart when it comes to giving. Help Me to Do Thy WILL. PRAISE JESUS Thank YOU Lord GOD Almighty !