Devotional Time with God

It’s better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

Enjoying what I have is something I’ve known to do for a while. I am happy to admit that I don’t have a grand ambition to own bigger, better, or shinier things. I have learned to be happy with what I have, as long as it’s not broken or unusable. It’s not say that I’ve not yearn more than my earning. I had thoughts about earning more money to buy more stuff. I even have been depressed and irritable when I don’t get what other people have. The bible warns me about wanting more money because I’m unsatisfied, in Ecclesiastes 5:10,

If you love money and wealth, you will never be satisfied with what you have. This doesn’t make sense either.

I must choose to love people. I must slow down on my wants and worldly desires. It is my choice.

In conclusion, this is the order that God blesses:

1. Dedicate money to God
2. Tithe it
3. Save it
4. Repay it
5. Enjoy it

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10

This is God’s promise: He will overflow me with blessing if I give my first offering to Him. This is the concept of Tithe. It’s one of the most difficult concept in the bible because it requires a giant leap of faith to give 10% of my gross income to the Church. It’s a subject of controversy because people have concerns about giving that much money to a church that might abuse it. Of course, not all church will misuse it. I know for certain that Saddleback Church will not because Pastor Rick just offered the congregation a challenge: tithe for the next 3 months – if I’m not blessed, closer to God, and my life enriched, Rick will refund the money out of his own pocket! He strongly believe tithing works, and I do too. It happened in my life and I learned God’s blessing thru tithing.

Another important note is that tithing is for God. That means it’s an act of worship, in a house of worship. Tithing is for the church, not a third party charity or organization.

Tithing is a test of my trust in God. I trust my future in God with my faith in Him.

What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What I want it to be?

The Purpose Driven Life, p. 35

Living in this world has a lot of pressures: friends, family, and sometimes self-imposed ones. When I grew up, I tended to find approval from my parents and friends. My parents would like to see me succeed in life, either in wealth, or in raising a family of my own. I was asking the questions: Do I make enough money to equal Dad’s success? Am I married to a woman that my mother approved? Will my friends still be friends when I’m in a less fortunate situation? Will others see us as bad parents if my child does not behave to a certain “standard”?

The stress that I put on myself are not necessarily in sync with God’s purpose for me. In fact, if it is God’s will, my life should be very easy! I had those moments where things look straight forward and simple. It felt like walking on a tight-rope; sometimes I felt in control. But as soon as I looked down, I lost my balance and fell.

This world also puts an emphasis on money as a measure of one’s success. I never forget the verse from 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV):

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Money is not evil. It’s the love of money that is evil. It’s a verse that’s often misinterpreted and miscommunicated. Money is essential to survive in this world, but the drive to accumulate more of it is not healthy at all. I must teach my family that sometimes enough is enough. We don’t need expensive SUVs. We don’t need 100″ plasma TVs. We don’t need to travel every 3 months, etc.

Another concept that shows God’s favour is the act of giving. After providing for my family, I must also help others with my money. In Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

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 you will not have room enough for it.

This verse was given to us by my church friend, Sherry. I was on unemployment insurance, getting $300 per month. How could I give that away as tithe? It turned out that we could still give 10% to God and He still provided for my family! People helped us in our time of need. I received a substantial tax return. We stayed healthy. We were never short. Eventually, I got another job that paid more! God is that simple — give to Him, and He will give a lot more back to me!

Once I know that God is in control, my life is more focused and clear.