Why Are You So Strange? Finances

 They can't understand you. 

Why do you work? Hello, welcome today. I'm serious. Why do you work? Are you saving up for something? A new car? A house? Retirement? Do you work just to survive and to pay bills? Are you just trying to accumulate wealth? What are you working for?

Yes, we are going to talk about money. Do you know what the Bible says about work? First, God created it.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Genesis 2:15

Second, we should not be working solely for ourselves.

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Ephesians 4:28

Read that again. "let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Say "so that." In order to give. We should be working for the betterment of others. We should be striving to be blessed, so that, we may bless others. Jesus puts it this way.

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." John 6:27

Life is NOT about working for someone else to pay bills and struggle to survive. This is not life. Jesus said,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Oh yes, you work for the Power Company. Yes, you work for the Car Company. Yes, you are a Garbage Professional, Teacher, Cop, Doctor, ETC. Yes, you have a title. However?

"Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:22-24

We should be respectful, hard-working, dedicated, and loyal. However, we should never be fearful or feel that we rely on men for our jobs and positions. We do not. God provides. He got you that job. He put you in that position. If you lose your job? Especially for His name's sake? Truly blessed you will be. Yes, God will get you a new job. The Creator of the universe has a bit of authority to get you a new job anywhere He chooses.

He does, however, require one little thing. A tithe. You would have nothing if it were not for God. You would not even be breathing right now. God would be well within His right to require 50 percent. He could demand all of it. But He chooses not to. No, He has decided that a tithe is ten percent. We see the first tithe in Genesis 14 starting at verse 17

"After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was the priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:17-20

This is the first time a tithe is mentioned in the Bible. Abram or Abraham gave away ten percent of his captured goods. It was a thanksgiving offering to God on behalf of the people who had been miraculously rescued and brought home safely. Notice this, Abraham did not give this ten percent out of his own possessions or property. He gave out of his gain from the battle. His "salary" if you will. He did so in gratitude to, and in recognition that, without God, the Victory would not have been possible.

So this became a normal practice in the old times. People started to tithe ten percent of their gains, for both gratitude and thanksgiving to God. It was also a way to ensure that all would be taken care of, even if someone was in lack. Then of course, what happens often happened then. Some chose not to tithe. Like today, some felt that they should, or that they needed to keep all 100 percent. What does God feel about this?

"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:8-12

Why does God want this? Read this again.

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house."

This is the reason. Not for the Pastor to gain riches. Not for those giving to gain riches, but so that the church has the ability to meet its needs and to meet the needs of the people less fortunate. Now we get to the point some pastors are using to trick people into giving them money.

God did not create our financial system. We did. God does not need money. We do. Instead of bringing in grains, cows, chickens, milk, honey, fruits, and veggies, today's modern church needs money to

1- Pay bills. lights, heat, AC. ETC.
2- To buy grains, cows, chickens, milk, honey, fruits, and veggies, AKA food to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
3- YES-To meet the needs of the pastor. The pastor should not be part-time. He should not be in need and worrying about where his next meal will come from. He should be spending his time in the word, in prayer, and in the care for others.

Electric is not free. Heat is not free. Food is not free. The pastor's needs are not free. Again, not in God's system, but rather in ours. God promises us that if we DO tithe, we do not ever have to worry about that 90 percent. That it will go far farther than that 100 percent ever will. That if we bless others, by blessing the Church, God will bless us in all things. Not that we hit the lotto tomorrow, but in life itself. As a child of God, it is our duty to do this. Remember this passage? James 2:15-16

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

Seriously. If you say you are "religious" and yet you do nothing but show up and listen to the pastor, and go home, what do you accomplish for God? God does call for us to tithe, which is 10 percent, for no other reason than it is for the good of those tithing and for the good of those receiving. It is practical, factual, and needed. It should be something, like with Abraham, that we LONG to do. Something we do proudly and humbly. Please keep this in mind. Read it, highlight it, memorize it.

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you."

Now, is there abuse in the church? Of course. Are there pastors and church officials that will take your tithe and use it for their own gain? Yup. Just like bad doctors, police officers, drug company CEOs, whatever, there are bad pastors and administrators in the family of God. Does that change any of the reasons we need to tithe and give offerings? Nope. You are obligated to tithe. If that pastor is misusing the tithes, that is between him and God. Nothing you could ever do could compare to what God can and will do to a deceitful person using Him and His church for selfish gain.

Just to be clear, a tithe is ten percent. An offering is anything more than ten percent. For example, if you make $1000.00 a Paycheck, your Tithe is $100.00. Not $90.00. Not $20.00. Not $120.00 Your tithe IS $100.00. If you chose to, or God puts in on your heart, to give $120.00, then $100.00 is your tithe, and $20.00 is your offering.

Tithes and offerings are to ensure that all God's children's needs will be met. Food, clothes, shoes, a roof over their heads. ETC. Again it is to meet the needs of the church, pastor, and people. So the next time you give, do not give out of obligation. Is it? Yup. Do not give out of expectations. Does God lie? No. Will He bless you? Of course. But God is not a get-rich-quick scheme. No. When you give, do not do so out of obligation, nor expectations, rather do it, out of love.

People will look at you as being strange. Why do you throw away all that money? God doesn't need your money. The preacher is just getting rich on your dime. Why are you so strange? Think of all that you could but with the money you are just throwing away. The problem is, they can't see your 401 E. Your eternal retirement plan. They cannot see the treasures that you are storing up in heaven. Be strange. Give generously. Store up those treasures in heaven. You will be much happier.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!