Upwards Church

Two months down, one to go.  I am so proud of you.  The stories keep coming in! Check the comment at the bottom. I am praying for God to bless you and your finances as you continue this journey called the Tithe Challenge.

Today we will look at a passage from Genesis, the first book of the bible which means “beginnings.”   In Genesis 14 we find a man named Abraham who would become the father of the nation of Israel.   This passage records Abraham’s nephew Lot and all his belongings being a captured by an invading army.  Abraham recues him and defeats the army that plundered the area.  As Abraham and his men are returning with all their loot, they are met by “Melchizedek, king of Salem who brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham.  Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

A tenth of all of his loot, riches, and possessions right there on the spot! Who is this? Listen as Hebrews 7:2-3 describes him, “Melchizedek means king of righteousness, without beginning of days or end of life, a priest forever”   Most biblical scholars agree that this either a type of Christ, which means it is meant to illustrate a lesson about Christ OR an appearance of Christ himself.   Abraham gives Christ, 10% of everything he just earned.  Christ brings bread and wine, a picture of the sacrifice He would one day make, “this is my body… this is my blood, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:26-27) And He blessed him.

Notice…

• Before the Abraham had a son and became the father of Israel, he gave ten percent.
•  Before there was a nation of Israel, there was the giving of the tithe.
•  Before there was the law, there was giving the tenth.
• Before there was a recorded Bible there was giving the tithe.
• Before any of that; in the beginning there was the tithe.

So don’t let anyone try to convince you that tithing is from the law, it’s before.

Or that tithing is something the early church or modern church came up with, it’s before.

Or that tithing was only for the nation of Israel, it’s before.

Before anything, there was Christ. Before we pay ourselves, we give back to the One who has given us everything.  Christ is the one who gave His body and blood for us, the one who blesses us in every way.

Thank you Jesus for all you have given and before anything we want to give back to you.

Until next week,

Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

Today you will be encouraged by best NY times bestselling author and radio host Dave Ramsey.  In his book Financial Peace Revisited, he has a great chapter called “Understand the Spiritual Aspects of Money.”  I would like to share some great insights from that chapter.

He writes:

• The spiritual aspect of money you must understand is ‘farming.’  No farmer has ever grown a crop unless he planted some seed.  Personal growth requires that you give money away. Somehow giving reminds us that the world doesn’t revolve around us.
• Good things that cannot be calculated or quantified are set in motion in your life and in   your finances when you give; I have seen many couples make the turn toward financial peace simply by adhering to this principle.
• You need to plant some seed in self-growth, and you can do this only by giving.  I do not    totally understand what giving does to the human spirit, but I do know that I meet very few well-balanced, happy, healthy, wealthy people who don’t give money away.
• Giving helps us keep proper priorities in our lives.  It is essential to good money       management.
• Christians should give tithes to their local church.

He goes on to list references for reasons to tithe:  Genesis 14:18-20, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:26, Deuteronomy 14:22, 1 Chronicles 26:20, Malachi 3:7-12, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, Luke 18:12, 1 Corinthians 9:7 and Hebrews 7:8.

Thanks Dave!  And thank you for giving and taking this challenge to grow spiritually.  I am praying for you.

Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com

The stories keep coming in! See the comment below for the latest.

I am praying for you! We are at our halfway point in our three months.  I hope to encourage you today from “The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn.

In chapter one Randy writes that most of the parables Jesus told are about money and possessions.  Jesus spoke more on this topic than his teachings on heaven and hell combined.  “Why did Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions? Because there’s a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.  We may try to divorce our faith and our finances, but God sees them as inseparable.”

He goes on to say that this truth hit him years ago on an airplane while reading Luke 3.  John the Baptist is teaching to large crowds of people who have gathered to hear him and be baptized.  Three different groups of people ask him what they should do to show evidence of their repentance.  John gives three answers:

1. Everyone should share clothes and food with those who have none (vs. 11)
2. Tax collectors shouldn’t pocket extra money.  (vs. 13)
3. Soldiers should be content with their pay and not extort money. (vs. 14)

Each answer relates to money and possessions. But no one asked John about that! They asked what they should do to demonstrate the fruit of spiritual transformation.  So why didn’t John talk about other things?

“Sitting there on the airplane I realized our approach to money and possessions isn’t just important, its central to our spiritual lives.”

Jesus and John the Baptist knew that money and possessions was people’s god.  Jesus and John realized that no one could serve God unless they dethroned their money idol.

Thanks you for being a part of this Tithe Challenge.  It’s evidence that you are “dethroning the money idol” Thanks for taking the opportunity face the central part of your spirituality: money and possessions.  By giving 10% to God you are putting money and possessions in their proper perspective, but more importantly you are putting God where He belongs.   Thanks for going beyond the regular religious practices to the heart of the issue, money & possessions.  True spirituality and putting God first are becoming a reality for you as you give as God has asked.  Way to go!

Until next week, Darrell

Tithe Online at

www.RidgeFellowship.com

Speaking of “blessed and real” We have another good news story!  See at the comment section or go to our face book to see the specific story here.

You may also have had reasons why you didn’t tithe sooner.  These are barriers.  Do you know what they were?  Today I would like to introduce a website that will serve as a of source of inspiration. Its www.Generousgiving.org    They had list of the top 30 Barriers to why people do not give until the website recently changed but there are still great video testimonies.

I am going to list three of the top barriers.  Listed will be the barrier in bold, followed by some reasons we should not let this be a barrier or a ‘because.’

… I am up to my ears in debt. I cannot give now.

God knows exactly what brought debt into your life, and His desire for you to be liberated from its burden is even greater than your own. As you work to repay creditors, trust God to guide you; listen for His voice. When He leads you to give, recognize that He does not want you to be deprived of the joy that comes with generosity.

The Bible tells all Christians to give to God from their “first fruits” (Proverbs 3:9). As Larry Burkett, one of the founders of Crown Ministries has said, the first check you write belongs to the Lord and no one else, not even a creditor. God’s grace is sufficient to allow you to be obedient to Him, and to give generously, even during times of debt.

 … I would like to give, but my spouse does not share my desire to give.

Generosity and marital unity are both precious biblical values in God’s eyes. He longs to see you demonstrate both and would not expect you to sacrifice one in pursuit of the other.

Honor your spouse and honor your marriage, knowing that there is no challenge within a marriage that God cannot resolve, no distance He cannot bridge. Prayerfully and patiently, allow your faith to be reaffirmed. Give individually in ways that will not challenge your marriage, and then wholly trust God’s grace to bring you and your spouse together to experience the immense joys of giving generously as a couple.

…We would give, but we are a young couple with no nest egg. (Or) We would like to give. But we are only a few years from retirement, paying for two kids in college, and have very little saved. (Or) Next year I have a promotion coming. We will give then, but right now the budget is pretty tight.

Isn’t it interesting that at every stage in life, there are tempting reasons not to give? Yet aren’t budgets always tight?  Early married life, late middle age, and career transition are all periods of relative economic vulnerability. And yet, nowhere do the scriptures exempt the economically vulnerable from generosity. In fact, ironically, many biblical examples of generous givers are poor people (Luke 21:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-2). Jesus tells His followers not to be afraid for their well-being. (Luke 12:32-34).

God knows what you need, and He promises to provide it (Matthew 6:32). If God is inviting you to give, however vulnerable you might feel, you need not fear for your security. But if you are waiting to give until you feel financially secure enough, that time likely will never come. Ironically, God assures you that giving is the most financially secure move you can make. But the experience of His provision comes only after the act of giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). That is how faith works, and God invites you to test Him in this (Malachi 3:10).

Thanks again for stepping out on this amazing journey!  I am thankful for you and pray that you continue to have more reasons to give than not to

I am praying for you, Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com