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Day 133 Proverbs 16:16 Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! What is the one thing everyone wants? Isn’t it money? People want to keep up with the Joneses. They want to be able to do whatever they want when they want to do it. Every commercial on television is geared to just that. However, Solomon said there was something more important than riches. It was wisdom and understanding. What good is having riches if you don’t have the wisdom to use it wisely? If you suddenly came into a wealth of money, what would you do with it? I’ve heard many people say they will pay off their debts and go on vacations. They do whatever their heart decides until it’s all gone, and they are back to where they were before. Wisdom would have you invest your sudden wealth so it will continue to build in the years to come. Solomon’s second point was understanding. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of life – getting an education, a job, being able to support yourself and a family, it won’t matter how much money you have, it will slip through your fingers like water. God has an investment plan for your future. It’s called the tithe. A tithe is 10% of your gross income. That might seem like a lot when the government is already taking 20% or more of your income in taxes. However, if you have ten pennies, and 10% of that is one penny, you have no problem giving one penny to God because you still have nine. When you give God 10% of your income for his kingdom, you still have 90% to take care of the rest of your life. I have heard every argument against giving your tithe. However, the one thing I can’t get over, is that no matter how much you give to God, God gives back more. You have enough to pay your bills. But God doesn’t stop at what money can buy you. There is a lot more invested in God’s kingdom than most people realize. God takes care of all your needs, and that includes your health, and the things you have, such as your car and appliances, and the things you need for daily living. It isn’t all about money. Consider what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (KJV) Jesus then went on to tell the people what God would do for them. He would provide the clothes and food. Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they? 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (KJV) It’s been said you cannot out give God, and you can’t. I have seen it in my own life. The problem with the tithe is listening to all the lies Satan whispers in your ear about how the church just wants your money, and you have more need of it than God does. It isn’t about the church. It isn’t whether God needs your money or not, which he doesn’t. Instead, it’s about obedience in giving to God not the church. When you give to God’s kingdom, God uses it to take care of his work. What would happen if everyone stopped giving their tithe or offerings? You would walk into church one day and the lights wouldn’t work, and there wouldn’t be any heat. Missionaries wouldn’t be funded. Bible societies wouldn’t be able to put Bibles in the hands of people who need them. You would never find another Bible in a hospital room or hotel room, placed there by the Gideon’s. However, that will not happen, because there are people who do believe in giving to God, so his kingdom will move forward. As it does, he will meet your needs in every area of your life. Don’t listen to Satan’s lies. Invest in God’s kingdom, and you will find that what Solomon said about wisdom and understanding is true. Wisdom and understanding are more important than anything this world has to offer. Let’s pray: Father, help me invest in your kingdom first, before I do anything else with what you have given me. Help me not listen to Satan’s lies about my income, or want to keep up with my neighbors. Let my treasure be found instead, in your work. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 19 January 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay