Upwards Church

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

Those of you taking the Tithe Challenge, I am so proud of you!  You are stepping out in faith and it’s awesome.  My prayers are with you right now.

You may be under attack as you have committed to give to God’s kingdom.   It’s OK, that’s a sign you are doing the right thing.  Hang in there!

We already have another story from someone in our tithe challenge.  Chrystal writes, “We have been tithing 10% and as hard as it was in the beginning, we don’t even notice that the money is not there. Not only are we not noticing that the 10% is not there but it seems like I keep “finding” money. We have money left over at the end of the month.”

To read more, check out last week’s comment here.  Our check out our Facebook page:   http://www.facebook.com/RidgeFellowship

You may see something good happen like a check in the mail, or getting the job or raise you’ve been wanting like we have seen.  You may not.  But, you will feel satisfied and closer to God as you walk in faith.  You will know that God is God at some point during this three months, but don’t quit.

Today I am going to share something from The Global Rich List.

Every now and then you may see a list containing the richest people in the world.  You may even wonder what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here’s your chance to find out. Go to www.globalrichlist.com  Type in your country and income and where you compare in the world to the other people.  Its eye opening!

For instance, if you make $48,000 annually in your household, you are in the top 1% of the wealthiest people in the world!

Did you know three billion people live on less than $2 per day while 1.3 billion get by on less than $1 per day? 

I used to think that rich meant someone who had a lot more than I have.  Now I know that rich is a matter of perspective.  I am rich, you are rich. You are richer than 99% of people in the world.  Listen to God’s perspective “For everyone to whom much is given, from him/her much will be required” Luke 12:48

This verse is haunting to me.  I have to tell myself, “God has given me so much.  But why? To keep, to hoard, to spend only on myself?  No, to manage well and give some for God’s purposes.”

Be rich, but be obedient too.  Tithing is giving what God requires.  Way to go!

Darrell

Tithe online at www.ridgefellowship.com