Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 302 Proverbs 28:20 Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent. 21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. 22 He that hastes to be rich hath an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him. How many ways are there to become rich overnight? There is the lottery. People will stand in line for a chance to win the big one, spending countless thousands of dollars for a one in a million chance to choose the numbers that will make them an instant winner. There are contests like Publishers Clearing House that promises someone will be rich IF their number is chosen. Gambling is another way people hope to become rich. Yet all the ways man has devised to become rich, leaves them instead, penniless, pawning their possessions for a piece of bread. What did Solomon say? He that makes haste to be rich won’t be innocent. People will do anything for that one chance to become rich, have it all, and never suffer poverty again. Yet, Solomon said that for all their efforts, poverty will be their ultimate end. Consider the faithful man, Solomon spoke about. A faithful man works hard for his wages. A faithful man learns how to invest his money so poverty will not come knocking on his door. A faithful man puts money away for his retirement. A faithful man is a good steward of what God has given him, and God blesses those who are faithful. God gave Moses a command about the tithe. With the tithe God also promised to bless his people. What is a tithe? A tithe is 10% of your gross income. A dime on a dollar, $1 on $10 and so forth. It isn’t much when you consider you still have 90% to use to take care of all your finances – bills and other obligations. Jesus sat in the treasury and watched how people gave to God. Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. God is not touched by your gift when you give out of your abundance – what you decide to give to God, and not what God commanded. However, God is touched by the sacrificial gift of a person in need who gives from their heart. God will bless that person, rather than one who gives for show. Consider your income and what you do with it. How much do you spend on things other than your bills – such as entertainment, fast food, and whatever brings you joy? Lies have been spoken to your heart that says you don’t have enough to give a tithe to God. Lies tell you the church is holding out its hand for your money. Satan is a liar and will do whatever he can to keep the blessing from you when you obey God regarding your finances. When you give your tithes and offerings to God, he blesses your finances. Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD of hosts. God will rebuke the devourer – Satan. He will not be able to destroy anything God has given you. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (KJV) God promises to bless you when you give – an overflowing blessing that keeps on giving. Will you continue to go after the get rich quick schemes, or would you rather obey God, be a good steward of what God has given you and receive the promised blessing? God isn’t asking for your money because he is in need, but to bless you. Psalm 50:7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. 8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. 9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (KJV) Not only does God promise to bless you abundantly for your obedience in giving, but he will deliver you from all your trouble. God’s blessings aren’t just financial, but they cover every area of your life when you are faithful with your finances and out of obedience and willingness to give to God first. There is no honor in get rich quick schemes. They leave you in poverty and want. God wants to bless you, not leave you in poverty. Let’s pray: Father, help me give as you commanded, so your blessing will be on my life. Rebuke the devourer as you promised, when so the blessing on my life will be more than I can contain. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 8 July 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay