One of the most divisive topics in the world is money and supports the reality that “greed is the root of all evil”. As those who have read this writer’s blogs last summer know, I announced that my calling was “treasurer” of the Kingdom. This calling was reaffirmed with hundreds of prophetic words over decades by multiple prophets. For years I preferred to “go it alone” so that I wouldn’t have to rely on others to help fund the Kingdom. I figured the Our Heavenly Father could simply direct me into savvy investments at just the right time to acquire wealth for the Kingdom. With the right information I could buy certain financial instruments and turn $25K into $1.2 million in a matter of a couple of business days. Indeed I was given that opportunity before Black Monday, October 19th, 1987, but failed to act on HIS Word. Oh me of little faith!
Financing the Kingdom will require Love and faith by many who are called. It will require them to believe that Our Heavenly Father truly provides the increase when seed is planted. I recall when Our Heavenly Father spoke to me and told me to believe HIM to get out of debt in the early 1980’s. I responded by faith and suddenly business deals came my way. I made $10,000 in 15 minutes and two phone calls one day. Faith cometh by hearing the Word of Our Heavenly Father.
Who funded the building of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament? All the tribes, the people. Who will fund the Tabernacles Kingdom to come? Those who believe Our Heavenly Father will provide the means and methods of fruitfulness. There are those who will conditionally commit to funding the Kingdom: “When Our Heavenly Father sends me a windfall, I will contribute.” “When my boat comes in, I will write the check.” I suspect that day will not come. Our Heavenly Father will not be manipulated into acting based on some condition. Love does not need to extort money to build the Kingdom.
Faith requires planting seed before fruit is produced. Seedtime and harvest principles were established in Genesis and they have not changed since. If I plant tomato seeds, I will get tomatoes under the proper conditions. Mankind’s greed is the major deterrent to the funding of the Kingdom but that condition will not prevent the event from occurring. Just as Egypt gave the children of Israel wealth before leaving their country, a transfer of wealth will occur again. When you are placed in extreme circumstances, money becomes secondary to personal safety. There are those who will fund the Kingdom out of Love and there are those who will fund the Kingdom out of duress. Either way the Kingdom will be funded.
Deuteronomy 26:12 "When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year–the year of tithing–and have given [it] to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled.” NKJV
People like to argue about the tithe and its application. Instead they should be pursuing the intent of Our Heavenly Father behind the tithe. The intent of the tithe is to express the Love of Our Heavenly Father toward the need at hand. The Pentecostal ministry would have everyone believe that the tithe was to build larger churches while many in the congregation were going hungry. Some believe that the tithe has been done away with. Some simply ignore the tithe so they won’t be on the line to give. In the end it boils down to greed. The tithe is a practical way of subduing the flesh and determining whether greed is challenging your Love for mankind. “I would tithe but I can’t afford it.” I would suggest that greed will keep you enslaved from ever tithing, or expressing the Love of Our Heavenly Father. Some would argue that the tithe is only required by those who farm or ranch as in the OT days. I would suggest that we are all called to produce fruit in our respective callings therefore our fruit is to be tithed.
Over the years Our Heavenly Father has been faithful to my family in finances. We have given money and forgiven financial debts as HE has directed. Some of those debts were substantial but nevertheless we cancelled them. HE has been and will be faithful to us for we submit ourselves and our finances to HIS Word.
The focus of the above Scripture is to supply those in need that none should go hungry. Should the tithe include promoting the health of the population? Of course. The more legalistic you become about restricting the Love of Our Heavenly Father, the more apt you will be to arrest the flow of funds to the Kingdom. If you withhold your funds, Our Heavenly Father will move on to someone else. You will then wonder why you can never make ends meet. The flow of funds is healthy to any kingdom. Man’s kingdoms are simply a substitute for the real Kingdom. Which kingdom will you promote?