If You Don’t Give Generously, You’re Only Hurting Yourself
By Rick Warren

“According to your faith let it be done unto you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV).

Why does God command us to tithe? Does he need the money? No way! Then why are we supposed to give 10 percent of the money he gives us back to him?

We give because it stretches our faith and demonstrates our love. You need to give, not for what it can do for somebody else but for what it does for you. It makes you a giver. If you want to be like God, then you’ve got to learn to be a giver.

The Bible says, “According to your faith let it be done unto you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV). In other words, you get to choose how much God blesses your life. If you’re not rejoicing continually, obeying immediately, waiting patiently, and giving generously, you’re only hurting yourself. You’re cheating yourself of the blessings God wants to pour out in your life.

Maybe you can relate to this letter I received from a church member:

“Dear Rick, just two short weeks after I received a raise, I was laid off. I write today because I’m wrestling again with the tithing issue. Since the layoff several months ago, I’ve been able to keep up the tithe. I say I have. The truth of the matter is God has. Up until this month we’ve had a positive cash flow at the beginning of the month. This month the new medical insurance policy became a $550 obligation on a fixed budget, producing a negative cash flow before the month even began. I’ve wrestled with how to fund this amount. Drop the tithe and pay the medical insurance? Have my wife take a job to pay the tithe and destroy the principles we’ve committed to for our children?

“God knows my circumstances. He knows that I’ve held this check back because funds do not exist. Today, in faith and obedience to his Word, I’m mailing the balance of our June tithe and placing my full trust in him to provide for our needs. In my 15 years as a Christian, I’ve never been asked or allowed the opportunity to step out this far in faith. I’ve listened to you teach many times that you cannot out-give God. Never before have I been in a position that I must ask Christ to prove this. In faith today, I ask you to first pray with me and then deposit this tithe, trusting God to prove his Word.”

You think God is pleased with this kind of faith? No doubt. You think God let this guy down? Not a chance!

God not only uses difficulties and delays and demands to test our faith but he also uses dollars because money is such an important part of our lives. And giving generously is a powerful way to show that you trust God and want to grow in faith.

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