Who Do You Worship?

When we decide to follow Jesus, we choose to follow all His commands – or at least we should.

Some of us are willing to do all that He commands like pray, love others, and give our time to the Lord’s work, but when it comes to our money we cringe! We just can’t seem to let go of our pocketbooks very easily.

The second commandment though says “You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth below or in the water under the earth.

You shall not worship them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” Money is something that helps us pay our bills, purchase food, provide shelter, etc. but God is the source- He is the source for everything.

He tells us in James 1:17 that “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.”

Deuteronomy 8:18 says “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you the power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers as it is this day.”

Everything we have comes from God - He gives it to us. He also gives us the power and ability to make wealth so we can have the things we need. We, though, tend to look at our jobs and paychecks getting so caught up in ourselves that we forget that He made it happen for us.

The second commandment easily relates to our money issues as well. Like I stated earlier we are willing to give up everything to follow Jesus - except our pocketbooks. When that happens it is because we have placed too much trust in our money. We then don’t tithe or even give to others. We end up placing too high a value on our money.

We become dependent on it, we safeguard it. What ends up happening is that it becomes an idol in our lives – we place it above God. We may not think it’s an idol, but when our trust is more in our money than God then it has become an idol. We definitely need money to make it in this world but we need to trust in God first- not just what our bank account says.

God doesn’t need our money. When He asks us to tithe it’s a matter of obedience to giving our “first fruits” back to Him. It is all His anyways because all things come from Him. Let’s also remember He is asking for 10%, not 90%, he could have reversed it, but He didn’t.

Malachi 3:8-12 says, “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say; “How have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse; for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows, Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes” says the Lord of hosts, “And all nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land” says the Lord of hosts.

This verse is the only verse that says, “Test me.” He tells us He will bless us so much that we are overflowing in blessings. That He will make sure the enemy doesn’t get a hold of it! What more assurance could we need from Him that He will take care of us?

Maybe you have never thought money was an idol in your life – but ask yourself these questions:

1. Why don’t I tithe or tithe regularly?

2. What do I trust more in – God or my money?

3. Do I believe God will fully take care of my needs if I tithe?

4. Do I want to ever or continue to rob God?

Tough questions I know but God tells us what to do -are we doing it? Psalms 49:6 says, “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.”

God wants us to trust Him for everything because He promises He will meet every need we have and more. Philippians 4:19 says “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

We need to obey the Lord fully in everything and trust He will meet the needs of His people like He has promised – and He will!