Could it be said that your financial picture is that your accounts are overflowing and you wish God would stop blessing you financially?

The great leader for Jesus, the apostle Paul, said that Jesus said this:

“It is more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts 20.35)

I want to be a generous giver and I am not there yet.

Satan tempts me to be greedy and hoard and hide things from people that they might want or need from me.

If I happen to have some good experiences at giving then Satan tempts me to be hypocritical, proud or legalistic with it.

Jesus knew this was hard.  He watched rich people give big gifts and then a small gift the value of a penny was given.  It impressed Him more than all the other gifts. 

She had put in out of her poverty.

She had put in all she had to live on. (Mark 12.41-44)

The family of Jesus must have read about the giving of the Israel in times past.   Their giving was based on several realities

-God owns everything.

-He expects His children to be generous and merciful those in need.

-He teaches His children that what they put in giving to the needy or giving in tithes (10% of income) and offerings is backed up by His promises to meet their needs so they didn’t have to worry.

The prophet Malachi has God presenting a test regarding these tithes to God.  “Test me.”

Malachi 3.

6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

God knows we are insecure in things so He promises to take care of us.

Jesus said the same about giving.

Luke 6.

38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Larry Wishard