Who Do You Worship?

When we decide to follow Jesus, we make the choice to follow

all His commands – or at least we should. Some of us are willing to

do all that He commands like pray, love others, give our time to the

Lord’s work, but when it comes to our money, we cringe! We just

can’t seem to let go of our pocketbooks very easily.

The second commandment though says, “You shall not make

for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on

the earth below or in the water under the earth. You shall not

worship them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous

God.” Money is something that helps us pay our bills, purchase food,

and provide shelter but God is the source. He is the source for

everything. He tells us in James 1:17 that, “Every good and perfect

gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly

lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “But you shall remember the Lord your

God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He

may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers as it is

this day.”

Everything we have comes from God and He gives it to us. He

also gives us the power and ability to make wealth so we can have the

things we need. We, though, tend to look at our jobs and paychecks,

and get so caught up in ourselves that we forget He made it happen

for us.

The second commandment easily relates to our money issues as

well. Like I stated earlier we are willing to give up everything to

follow Jesus, except our pocketbooks. When that happens, it is

because we have placed too much trust in our money. We then don’t

tithe or even give to others. We end up placing too high a value on

our money. We become dependent on it; we safeguard it. What ends

up happening is that it becomes an idol in our lives, and we place it

above God. We may not think it’s an idol, but when our trust is more

in our money than God then it has become an idol. We need money

to make it in this world, but we need to trust in God first and not just

what our bank account says.

God doesn’t need our money. When He asks us to tithe, it’s a

matter of obedience of giving our “first fruits” back to Him. It is all

His anyway because all things come from Him. Let’s also remember

He is asking for 10% and not 90%. He could have reversed it, but He

didn’t.

Malachi 3:8-12 says, “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob

me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and

offerings.You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you

are robbing me. 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. I

will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your

fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD

Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be

a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.”

This verse is the only verse that says, “test me.” He tells us He

will bless us so much that we will overflow in blessings. He will make

sure the enemy doesn’t get hold of it! What more assurance could we

need from Him that He will take care of us?

Maybe you have never thought money was an idol in your life.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Why don’t I tithe or tithe regularly?

2. What do I trust in more – God or my money?

3. Do I believe God will fully take care of my needs if I tithe?

4. Do I want to ever or continue to rob God?

Tough questions, but God tells us what to do. Are we doing it?

Psalm 49:6 says, “He who trust in his riches will fall, but the

righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” God wants us to trust Him

for everything, because He promises He will meet every need we

have and more. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all

your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We need

to obey the Lord fully in everything and trust He will meet the needs

of His people like He has promised – and He will!

From God's Garden Tools by Gina Burns