Through the Heart of Jesus, Bring Ye All the Tithes and Offering

In 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) say, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” Every household decides what they will spend monthly and what they’re not going to spend. Either way, both requires a decision.

Devine giving begins at the heart but when it starts in our mind first, its an open door for conflict.  Colossians 3:15 say, “Let the peace of Christ be in control of your heart;” Paul is reminding us to let Christ’s peace be the controller of your hearts. When we give with our minds, conflict is right their to help you to decide what to give or whether or not to give.

Jesus reminds us that God is more concern about our attitude toward giving than the 10% (ten percent) He only requires of us to give. God loves it when his people go above and beyond to provide for the needs of His church. God wants all his believers in Christ, who confess to love “Him” with all your heart, and all your soul, and your entire mind, to also trust Him with all that you have.

Just like our households, every month churches get bills. Every week we see the needs of our churches and in our own families. But God wants your heart, more than your money. Proverbs 23:26 says, “My Son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” When it comes to our bank accounts, purses or our wallets, this is the one place that some of us don’t allow God to rule over nor do we submit them to the one we confessed to have made Lordship over our lives. God reminds us in Psalm 24:1, that “The earth is Lord and the fullness thereof.” He owns everything, even your bank account.

Tithing through the heart of Jesus, will break your self-centered naturedness.  Giving through the heart of Jesus becomes less painful once you realize that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17) If you want to be a reflection of God’s giving, ask God to enlarge your heart. Because the bigger your heart becomes, the larger your hands will become. Eventually, you’ll find yourself giving sacrificially.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21) Tithing through the heart of Jesus will begin to increase your intimacy with the Lord. In Acts 20:35 say, “It is better to give than to receive.” Malachi 3:10 challenge all of us to, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Tithing through Jesus’ heart and through reading God’s Word, encourages us to give out of gratefulness and gratitude of what the Lord has already given you. Every time God gives you grace to give, I pray that through faith and trust in Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, will inspire you to freely and willingly “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Serving the Lord With Gladness,

Deacon Terri McFarlane