Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
From a sermon on “Money Matters” by Pastor John in a prayer meeting on January 2, 1991
The flesh is always searching for a gimmick of some sort to substitute for doing the will of God. Eli, Israel’s high priest, had two notoriously wicked sons who attempted to use the ark of the covenant as a gimmick to win the war against the Philistines, but to no avail. God slaughtered both those wicked priests, and destroyed Israel’s army with them. Too late, they found out that there is no substitute for obedience.
God has never promised that He would bless us and provide all our needs if we merely rendered to Him the tithe of our increase and brought to Him our offerings. Tithes and offerings are only part of a kind of life that God has promised to bless. It is only a small part of the holy lifestyle that carries with it the protection and nurture of God. Tithes and offerings must be rendered to God; otherwise, we make ourselves spiritual robbers (Mal 3:8). But rendering tithes and offerings to God is not a gimmick. It is not some kind of magical trick by which we become prosperous by giving money away.
If you handle both God’s money and your own with prudence, then you will live a comfortable life financially, if not a life of earthly wealth. When has God ever promised to bless the man who renders his tithes and offerings faithfully and then wastes the money that he has remaining?