Three Ways to Be Prosperous (Part 2 of 3)
The longest verse I’ve ever memorized is in 1 Chronicles. I was participating in a Crown Financial Ministry small group and weekly scripture memorization was part of the study. The curriculum hit us with this passage right away:
“Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).
To sum it up, everything belongs to God.
It’s not an easy concept to grasp.
Instead, “It’s my house.”
“My money.”
“My car.”
“My job.”
I am writing this blog from the balcony of a casita in the Dominican Republic. When I looked out this morning on the beauty of this place, I thanked God for the opportunity. He knows I enjoy travel and seeing the beautiful places that He created, so through my husband, my loving Father provided this opportunity.
When we realize that everything we own or do; even the breath we breathe, is a gift from God, then that’s the first step to prosperity.
Because if our possessions and financial means belong to God, it shouldn’t be a stretch to give one-tenth back to Him, out of our love and appreciation for the blessings in our lives.
Malachi 3:10 says, “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.’”
When we carve out this small percentage for God, He promises that He will pour out His blessings on us. We have seen it in our family ever since we began tithing over twenty-five years ago. We don’t give to get, we give out of gratitude to our Maker.
So if you want to be prosperous, recognize the heavenly Giver, then give a portion back to Him.