In this new season, God is taking us on a journey. A lot of people might have questions about their finances. Most people you meet have too much month left at the end of their paycheck. Everyone wants to unlock the door to financial freedom but as with any lock, using the right key is what will work. God has all the answers and as He reveals them to us, we shall respond accordingly. Many times when God gives answers, He gives them in the form of keys with which we can unlock the freedom that we seek.
Knowledge is a key of the kingdom and it is paramount to understanding the blessing of God. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22). To access your financial freedom, you first must understand your current financial position and how to move from there to the next level.
The first thing to understand is this: God owns everything. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. (Psalm 24:1). You are just a steward; a manager. If you grasp this then you will be delivered from misery that others have more than you do.
God has commanded and commissioned us to divide or apportion resources accordingly. Of all our increase, 10% is tithe. When we keep our covenant part, God will take care of us. Trust in God’s covenant with you by consistent and regular practicing of tithing. Know this: Whenever you stand in righteousness, God is faithful. He shows up!
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. (Psalm 37:25).
The first time tithe is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 14 after Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him having rescued his nephew Lot who had been taken captive. Abraham, who was still Abram then, is blessed by Melchizedek king of Salem – the priest of God Most High.
And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:20).
Here, Abraham established a covenant between him and God. Tithing is a way of establishing a covenant between you and God. Through tithing you set yourself apart as you honor God this way.
An important thing to note here is that when you give your tithe, you are not giving it to pastor, you’re not giving it to the elders of the church – you are giving it to Jesus who is our High Priest now. Please read the following passage of scripture from the book of Hebrews:
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. (Hebrews 7:1-9)
Pay attention to verse 8. Tithe is collected by Him who is declared to be living. Jesus is the only High Priest that is living.
Jacob also gave so that he could connect with the blessing of God. He was not trying to meet a need or bills. This is what he said:
And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me. (Genesis 28:22).
When you come to “this rock” – the church building, to give your tithe – a tenth or 10% of everything He gives you, you come to connect with the blessing of God. It is not the sweat of your brow or the work of your hands that blesses you; it is God who blesses and tithing is the way to connect with that blessing. Picking extra shifts may help a little but you need a permanent solution and this solution is obtained from connecting with the blessing of God through tithing. Tithing is the sure key to unlocking your financial freedom!
