Hey everybody, welcome to our broadcast. Remember, we are simulcasting a live portion of a teaching I did on money from a biblical standpoint. We are Business, Money, and Christianity, a financial podcast from a faith perspective.
Join us as we go into the next part of the teaching that I created on a larger scale that we're placing into this podcast. Look forward to seeing you next week. Don't forget to like, share, make a comment, ask a question, whatever.
I'll see you again next week. Thank you for stopping by.
If I’m going to have more than enough—so that I can abound in every good work, with all sufficiency flowing in, constantly coming in—then my giving should increase. Giving is actually the more important part, because it opens up the receiving.
So if God wants me to abound in bigger things, let’s say I have more than enough and I can give $10. I’ve got $10 extra—okay, let’s just use an offering in church. I go to church, I put in $10—praise God, I had $10 more than enough.
Now, this week, let’s say $9 comes back to me. Was that Ralph’s testimony? No. He rounded up to $10, and what happened? $35 came back—a $25 net increase. So now, can he give $10 again, or even go up to $15? Yes—because the flow of increase in a life of abundance has to be greater than the flow going out.
Here’s where the mistake comes in: we look at it from a budget standpoint. “I can’t give, because this is all I have… and this is all I have…” Meanwhile, our wants dictate everything first, and God gets what’s left over.
People say, “I can’t afford to tithe.” And I say back to them, “You can—if it’s first.” Now, MasterCard might get mad at you, but Master Jesus will be pleased with you. Who do you want to please?
We say these things, but not everybody can do that. So if God says this, then I have to believe that He set up a system where He wants me to have more than enough—and a system through which I can get there. Someone out there is praying for something that God wants to use you to meet. But if I live by my budget, I’ll never meet that need.
Have you ever felt in your heart that you should give something to someone—and you said no? Thank you, I appreciate the honesty.
Let’s look at it from both sides. If God tells us to give something—say $1,000—and it’s a real struggle… have you ever been there? The struggle was real. Is God trying to make you broke? Is He trying to deplete your savings? Does He want you to go backward? No.
But we don’t really believe that He wants us to abound—that’s why we see it as subtraction. So the problem is me, but the answer is God. The answer is believing that God really did what He said, and that there truly is a system I can operate in.
Even in giving, I have to believe that this releases the return. And I get to decide what level I want to live at—a Motel 6, a Holiday Inn, or a Marriott Christian. If you’re at a Motel 6 level, don’t beat yourself up—but don’t expect to suddenly walk into Marriott living without growing your faith. You need purpose.
I’ve said it many times: I want to write five-figure checks. I want my cash flow to be at that level. Not everyone wants that, because they can’t even imagine it.
The other day, I walked into an A.M.P.M. mini market—probably should’ve gone somewhere nicer, but it’s close to the house—to grab a soda. On the window was the lottery sign. Now don’t go buy lottery tickets—this was just an exercise in thinking bigger.
If I remember right, it was around $425 million. I thought, “Lord, do You realize that the tithe on that would be $42.5 million?” A pastor would love to see that come in. And I thought—if I sent $42.5 million, he’d probably write a check for $4.25 million to someone else. We’re all believing for increase—but we have to start thinking in larger amounts.
I’m not saying this is from God—this is just me thinking. It’s a long way from a $10 offering, but it’s in my heart. One day, I’ll do it. We keep building in our giving, and we’ll get there. My heart is already there.
I’m constantly thinking bigger—what could be done, what could happen, what would change if this came in or if I did that.
So let’s go to Ephesians chapter 3.
“…that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love…”
God wants us rooted and grounded in love. God is love. Does a loving God want people to live a hard, struggling life?
Is this message only for developed countries? No. This works anywhere. I’ve been in third-world countries where people say, “We don’t teach tithing because our people are too poor.” My response is: have you considered that this might be why they’re poor?
It’s not about the amount. I heard a testimony of someone tithing $6—because that’s what they had. The amount doesn’t matter—priority does. If God is first, it works. If He’s last, there’s nothing left.
“…that you may be able to comprehend… the breadth, length, depth, and height… and to know the love of Christ…”
Can you really comprehend God’s love while living in constant struggle? You might feel peace—and that’s good—but if there’s no fruit, no impact, no ability to bless others, that’s not the full expression of His love.
“…that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Is lack part of God? Is poverty part of His nature? No. If you’re filled with His fullness, abundance is included—but we’re not manifesting it the way we should.
“…now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
That’s the key. God can do far beyond anything you can imagine. Even your biggest imagination doesn’t touch His capacity—but it still limits you, because you can’t think beyond what you believe.
Abraham struggled with this—God spoke about generations, while Abraham was thinking, “My wife is barren.” And we do the same: “I only have this much… I’m only this…”
So I have to know that I know that I know. Many people believe God will “get them through”—and they celebrate just making it to the next month. But God didn’t design a system for survival—He designed one for revelation.
“…according to the power that works in us.”
We are the governor of how much God can do through us. If I don’t truly believe He wants more for me, I’ll always take care of myself first—and that’s where it breaks down.
Finally, Matthew 6:
“Take no thought, saying, what shall we eat… or drink… or wear…”
Don’t live in fear. Planning is good—but fear is not. God is saying, don’t be anxious about provision.
“…your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.”
Then He says:
“Seek first the kingdom of God…”
God’s way of doing things. But you won’t seek it first unless you truly believe it works.
“…and all these things shall be added unto you.”
So don’t worry about tomorrow. Have a strategy, yes—but don’t live in fear. Think generationally. Be a good steward. Build something that outlives you.
My point is simple:
You have to know—deeply—that God wants you to have more than enough, and that He has already made a way for you to live in that abundance.
Comments
Post a Comment