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Deuteronomy 8:18 says, "But bear in mind the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth." Notice that God does not give us wealth, but He gives us the power to get wealth, meaning the talent, the wisdom, the recommendations, concepts, and insights we have to accomplish it. This is the balanced biblical view of wealth. We need to be taught the biblical principles of wealth, which is what this first teaching is about, and we have to understand that cash is not "dirty," but its only a tool to bless ministries and advance the Kingdom. Do you understand that? Get that in your spirit. Money is only a tool its not appropriate or evil. Just like a knife might be used in the hands of a surgeon or in the hands of a killer. Theres nothing appropriate or evil a couple of knife, and the same goes with cash.
The pastor says, "Sure, lets pray! God, please reduce Joes income back down to $500 a week so that he can honor you with the tithe."
We need to present to you a very balanced biblical view of prosperity and wealth, but most Christians have been on one end of the spectrum or the different.
Let me soar by telling you a story. Joe had an issue, so he took it to his pastor. "Pastor, Im having trouble tithing lately." The pastor asked, "What seems to be the hang-up?"
Now we laugh, but its not too funny whereas we evaluate the hang-ups many of us as believers have, and the body of Christ in overall. Maybe thats why the Bible has more to say about cash and wealth than it does about prayer! Its the truth! Of the 39 parables spoken by Jesus Christ, over half of of them use cash or work as a teaching tool. Why is that? Because the Lord knew that we'd have hang-ups with it! Thats why He had so much to say about it, to make selected we'd get it straight! But have we?
"Well, back whereas i made $50 a week, I tithed $5, which was mild. And whereas i made $500 a week, I tithed $50, which was okay. But now that I make $5,000 a week, Im having a tricky time. $500 a week in tithe is a lot of cash! Will you pray for me, pastor?"
On the one hand, many Christians have believed that God wants His different people to stay poor. They accept as true with that God is opposed to wealth because cash cant be spiritual. After all, cash is only "filthy lucre" and the "root of all evil." This belief gives them a poverty mentality, which is not a lack of cash, its a state of mind and a belief of the heart, which causes you not to have any cash. It steals your ability to bless those around you.
On the different hand, just a couple of Christians accept as true with that as long as they profess prosperity, it will just fall from the sky and land in their lap. Were not saying that God cannot provide financial miracles, because He can and He does, especially in times of considerable need. We have heard too many testimonies and have experienced too many miracles in our own lives to not accept as true with in miracles. But we have to be in the midst of those extremes, and thats us being diligent in learning the principles of how to produce wealth. Gods biggest desire is to educate us so we can learn those principles. Then He will bless our efforts. But the key is that we still have to in reality do something to produce it. We have to plant something in the ground as investments, or there is nothing that God can multiply. Are you with me on that? We have to make an effort in order for God to have something to bless.
