·        Money Troubles

We need to talk frankly about money.  No fluff, no stuff, just plain ‘ole money talk.

I have handled money God’s way since 1996.  I am speaking to you from not only a divine perspective but from real life experience.   I have learned lessons through trial and error.  God has allowed “error” to come in the form of thinking I was hearing from heaven when I wasn’t.  Then the Holy Spirit taught me that what is in place in the Kingdom will always stand before “feelings”.   Experience is our best teacher.  There is a lot of misunderstanding or miscommunication in the Body of Christ about money.

First and foremost, if you are a “follower,” you need to tithe.  A tithe is 10% of your gross monthly income.  The tithe comes right off the top and is your first obligatory “payment,” not the second or third.  To be completely obedient, you need to give the “first” to God. 

I began tithing in 1996.  I was a single mother and I needed help.  As I was obedient to tithe, God was faithful to get me the answers I needed.  Most of the time money didn’t just drop from the sky.  God provided a way for me to make the money.  There have also been plenty of times over the years that God has had people give me money.  But, I was always doing my part by working and doing what I knew to do.  I didn’t just sit around and wait for it to come to me, although at one point, I thought that is just what would happen.  I had no one help me understand about money and God’s way.   For example, I didn’t have a washer, dryer or refrigerator and all of a sudden someone called and asked me if I would store (in the house I was living in for free) for them these exact items.  I was told that I could use them as long as I needed to.  No payment was required and they were the exact color I wanted.  I had been faithful to tithe and this was a result of that obedience.  Then there was the time that someone brought a cell phone to me when I did not have one.  When they gave it to me, it was paid up for six months.  I can relate story after story to you about things God has brought into my life because I was obedient with my money, little as I thought it was.   

The book of Malachi 3:8-12 explains God’s stance on money to a T.  There is one time in the word God challenges His children to “test Him”.  Being the individual I am, He knew I would bite on that one.  I tested God with my money and have found Him, through the years, to be faithful.  It might hurt your flesh to tithe.  Money problems or not, you are robbing God if you do not tithe.  You might not like this but frankly, YOU are the problem, not God, if you are having money problems and do not tithe. 

Becoming a tither will take the stress out of your life so you won’t have so many ups and downs.  It might take a while to get on an even keel with your finances, but if you are willing to give your tithe and won’t quit, God will always help you.  It will take patience.  It will take time for your flesh to get use to tithing, but if you want the blessings of God, and you need a change in your life then YOU need to buck up and just do it.  If I can, you can.  God always put “out the fires” I was having but other things He gave me as He felt I was ready to take care of them.  

I didn’t have a job with a regular paycheck or benefits so I never knew what was coming but I still tithed every week from what I made.   For anyone who makes a paycheck, you need to learn to tithe in order to help yourself.  God puts it right out there for us and is clear in His Word what to do.  Many think they can’t afford to tithe.  You are stubborn and hardheaded if you think this way.  God cannot “open the windows” of heaven over your life if you won’t do this His way.   

Secondly, purpose to tithe where God tells you.  Whether you like me saying this or not, here it is- there are places that say the name of Jesus that are not ordained of God.  The soil is bad and you will not reap a full harvest tithing there.  You need to come to terms in your heart with this fact.  God once told me to stop tithing in a place where I attended.  I did what I knew God was telling me to do and I am glad I listened to Him.  Be wise where you sow your money.  Pray and ask the Lord where He wants you to give your money.  He talks quite clearly about this in Deuteronomy.

Let me leave you with this last piece of advice.   I know this is happening in the Body of Christ right now and I want you to be wise in what you listen to, especially if you are in a financial mess.  If you are being advised by someone on TV to sow a certain amount of money (an exact figure will be given) in order to get a particular harvest or financial gain in return, be careful.  There are many saying this only in order to obtain wealth.

When you are at your depths of despair and really need a miracle, you will listen to just about anyone and what you are hearing is not all coming from Heaven.  If you ever feel like giving in this way, first pray to God and tell Him how desperate you are.   Talk to Him and tell Him exactly what your needs are.  Be careful what you do and how you do it.  After all, it is your life and your money.

If you are having financial problems and currently sow money where you attend church, you need to approach that Pastor and tell him what you are dealing with….period.  If they won’t help you get on an even keel with making certain you are doing everything you should be doing, like working, then you need to leave.  Sow where you get fed.

When you have money problems, your emotions run rampant and it is hard for you to make a clear decision.  You need to get hooked up with someone who is steady, who works diligently, and isn’t always talking about “pie in the sky” ideas that never come to fruition.  You need to follow sound advice especially in the throws of trouble.  When someone tells you to “give me this and I’ll give you that,” be wise.  I have fallen into those traps as well.  However, there have been times when I have sown into TV ministries, but only under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

This is God’s world and His ways and you had better make certain it is His will where you sow.  Not every harvest God gives is money and no one is saying that.  If He sees that you need a healing, then maybe that will be your harvest.  Maybe it is a soul in your family that needs saved and that may turn out to be your harvest.   Learn about God and His ways of doing money.  Be wise.  

Molly