Knowing God…Part 2

In this series of blogs we’re discussing what we can know about God. There are a lot of great “warm and fuzzy” character traits of God…like Him being a Loving Father, as we discussed on Monday.

Maybe we tend to stay right there. It’s comfortable. Loving, caring, nurturing…not so much REQUIRING.

However, make no mistake about it, our God is KING. He is large and in charge. This truth applies to EVERY area of our lives. Our relationship, careers, family, free-time and even our finances.

This is clearly laid out for us in both the new and the old testaments. Notice here in Leviticus, the “tithe…belongs to the Lord.” It’s not optional. I mean, hey, if we feel like it and if we have enough at the end of the month. No. God says (in more places than this) our tithe is actually HIS tithe. And it belongs to Him.

“One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. ” (Leviticus 27:30 NLT)

Jesus made it clear that our money is in competition with Him for our heart’s affection.

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. … No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:21, 24 NLT)

Putting Him first with our finances says that we recognize He is King. In fact, one of may favorite quotes is this:

“If He is not Lord OF all, He is not Lord AT all.”