QUESTION #10 Do we rob God? Have we stolen time that belongs to Him? Has our money been withheld?
Here I am squeezing in time to write this blog AFTER getting side tracked most of the morning…! This question to me always seems applicable in our day and age. The book I’m taking these questions from, The Revival We Need, was written in 1933 long before our internet age. It makes me wonder how people robbed God with their time back then! Surely they had more time than I do to pray right? ;)
“Rob”,”stolen”, and “withheld” are pretty strong words. These are forceful choices we make to hold back our time and finances from God. This is a place we must learn from the generosity of Christ and give back unto Him. He willingly gave of Himself to embrace the cross- a most painful and gruesome death. He gave the last drop of blood as well as His final breath so that we could have eternal life.
Sadly, we forget this. We get focused on ourselves. Our needs. Our wants. Our pursuits. This suffocates our generosity. It’s not that He needs our money or time, but rather, that we need to be reminded that it’s all His anyways. In giving of both our hearts and resources we are reminded that we are stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Take for example the 3 wise men. They came seeking the Son of God and were prepared to give gifts unto Him. Our response to His lavish giving, is that we should give back to Him! This keeps our hearts free from the temptation to see everything as belonging to us. When our perspective reaches the point where we are entitled, we become self-absorbed and in so doing we “steal” from God. We then rob Him of both recognition and gratitude.
Experientially, I (Stephen) have lived in Africa some 20 years among the poorest of the poor. Time and time again I have seen the Word of God prove true even among people living on less than a dollar a day. I have seen God open up doors of unexpected provision, provide raises, keep accidents and detonation of possessions from happening, wisdom in financial matters, etc.. all because of obeying the Word to give.
APPLICATION:
1.What is our plan for finances? This looks like giving of the tithe, or 10%, to our local church where we receive spiritual edification. It also looks like special offerings for missions, outreaches, the poor, etc.. If we don’t have a plan in place this won’t work. We will make giving an after-thought; instead, it needs to be the top priority at every pay check. This honors God.
2. What is our plan for stewarding our time? This can be as simple as establishing prime moments of our day where we can spend time with Him in the Word and worship. Many people say, “Well, I’m too busy.” Then my argument would be that you should increase your time with Him instead of decreasing. Matthew 6:33 establishes a clear principle here. It says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added back to you.” Beyond our daily devotion to Jesus, this area looks like service at our local church, reaching out to our neighbors, volunteering for outreach or service, and taking mission trips.
SCRIPTURES:
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Malachi 3:10 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.