"Preach the Word,

I stumbled across this tract from The Tract League and thought it would be a good post and reminder for all of us.

I always thought that what I did with my money and my time was my own business. Then I happened to read a passage in the Bible and realized I had forgotten about God.

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth... Deuteronomy 8:18

I studied some more and discovered that in the Old Testament, God used the 10% rule (commonly know as the tithe) to fund the work of service and worship. It was a law, and every follower of God was required to set aside 10% of all income for the work of the Lord. That 10% was so important to God that those who used it on themselves were actually stealing from God.

And all the tithe of the land , whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. Leviticus 27:30

When I searched the New Testament about giving I discovered that the rule of law was replaced by a rule of gratitude.

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him... I Corinthians 16:2
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: For God loveth a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7

I discovered that in God's economy, He wants eveery believer to take part in advancing his kingdom.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

So I tried it, and discovered that giving time and money to the church was good for me - I was never happier than when I was involved in doing what I could to help the church. I learned that God delights to use my gifts to cause his kingdom to grow. I discovered that by giving both money and time, I received so much more than I ever gave. Then I found out why. I was on the receiving end of another one of God's great promises.

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, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10