The Truth About Money

Money Is Important

If something is important to God, don't you think it should be important to you?

I want you to know that God desires good things for you. Not only does He want you to be strong and prosperous in your spirit, He also desires you to be prosperous in the material areas of your life. He wants you to have food, clothing, housing, finances, and everything that pertains to the good life. All those things take money.

Remember, God did not tell Isaac to forget about the famine and be spiritual (Genesis 26). Instead, He told him three things: First, where to live. Second, what to plant. Third, what to expect from his sowing. God wanted Isaac to have the material things necessary to live well, even in the midst of famine. God cared about his material needs.

Today it seems it is just fine for preachers to talk about religious matters, but many people feel the topic of money and practical things is not spiritual, and they should not talk about them. Nonsense! Money is a spiritual issue to the saints of God!

When the poor widow sacrificed her two mites in an offering in the temple (Mark 12:41-44), Jesus did not say, "Woman, your financial sacrifice does not matter to me. God is not interested in your money. All that matters to God are your spiritual needs. I'm not concerned about your material needs. Just learn to accept your financial condition."

Instead, Jesus praised her for her precious financial sacrifice. Jesus knew the widow's heart. Since the two mites were a big part of her necessary living expenses, Jesus considered them a significant gift. Her giving was an important action.

The widow's gift represented more than the other gifts given that day, even those given by the very rich people. Jesus even called to the disciples and made open comments about the faith the widow manifested in her money offering.

You see, money is important to God. Money is important to Jesus. So money should be important to you.

I want to encourage you to allow your mind and spirit grow into a deeper understanding of the value of money to you, to God, and for the spreading of the gospel.

Money Is a Spiritual Subject

Over 20 percent of the Holy Scripture concerns money, wealth, finances, property, lands, possessions, tithes and giving. If money is not a spiritual subject, why does God say so much about it in the Bible?

Scripture shows clearly that God wants you to have money and be happy with your wealth.

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Proverbs 10:22

... yea, let them say continually,

Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Psalm 35:27

Scripture gives clear instructions on how to increase your funds.

Give, and it shall be given unto you....

Luke 6:38

Scripture also shows that when you give your money, you are performing an act of sacred worship to your God.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat [food] in mine house, and prove [test] me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open [for] you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 3:10

If you will read Deuteronomy 26:1-12, you will see that God says tithing and giving offerings are specific worship services before Him. Money is a spiritual matter.

Money is one of the acceptable scriptural offerings for the worship of the Lord. It is also an effective tool to help bring the message of salvation to lost souls throughout the world. When you put it to use according to biblical principles, money becomes a sacred thing.

Your money is your life. Each week when you are paid, the paycheck you receive is your employer's way of reimbursing you for the part of your life you spent in service to him. If you are sanctified through the blood of Jesus, and you give part of your holy life to your employer, the money he gives you in exchange for your life is holy money. It represents a portion of your holy life.

It Takes Money to Spread the Gospel

If you are interested in winning the world to Christ, it is important for you to understand these facts.

Operating churches costs money.

Printing Bibles costs money.

Preaching the Word in foreign lands costs money.

Beaming Christian television programs around the world costs money.

There is no doubt that it takes money to spread the gospel. The Word of God agrees with this statement.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent?...

Romans 10:14,15

It costs money to send the Word of God to others. When you begin to understand and apply God's laws of abundance in your life, you will receive the money you desire

to help finance the end-time harvest.

You can begin right now to have not only enough to meet your own needs, but plenty left over to give into the work of the Lord (2 Corinthians 9:8). Just begin to apply the principles in this book, and see their benefits materialize in your life. Your faithfulness in giving to God's work will help spread the gospel. It will also guarantee that a day of abundant prosperity will eventually overtake you. That's not my promise; it's God's promise!

Giving Money Results in Receiving

Memorize that important statement. It is a vital principle of biblical economics. Giving always results in receiving! You have God's Word on it:

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal [measure] it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6:38

Look closely at these key points:

1.    God promises to return your gift to you. He says you will receive a "good measure," literally "running over." God will bless you when you give to Him.

2.    God says your blessings will come from men who shall give to you. God uses people, and so He has no difficulty blessing you from unexpected places. The source God uses doesn't matter. What is important is that you understand this biblical principle: when you give, you will receive a return.

3.    You will receive in the same measure that you give. Remember, the measure is not how much you give, but how much you give in proportion to your income. This scripture does not promise that if you give five dollars, you will receive five dollars in return. It says if the five dollars you gave is simply casual pocket money, you will not receive a very large return. You will receive the five dollars back, but not in a greatly multiplied measure.

However, if that five dollars is a very critical part of your remaining funds, a precious seed out of your limited remaining resources, it becomes a great measure in God's eyes, and you will receive a great measure in return from Him. Your gift will be greatly multiplied.

When you become a giver, you automatically move yourself into the realm of a receiver. There are no exceptions to this rule. However, there are levels of receiving: "... some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundredfold]” (Mark 4:8). The measure you use in giving will determine the measure God will apply to you in receiving. No matter with what measure you give your gift, when you give to God, you will receive a return. "Give, and it shall be given unto you..." (Luke 6:38).

Remember:

Be not deceived [don’t be fooled];

God is not mocked [He cannot be fooled]: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7

Now you understand why it is so important not to forget this statement! Giving money results in receiving.

Money Answers Problems

The world operates according to its own "Golden Rule": whoever owns the gold makes the rules.

Did you know the Bible teaches almost the same principle? If you doubt it, read this verse.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

If you don't think that statement is true, just ask a mother who needs to buy school clothes for three or four children. Money will answer her problem. Just ask anyone who is hungry. Money will answer the problem.

For too long the saints of God have accepted Satan's lies and have acted as though money is something to be feared. If you are one of those saints, take these three key scriptures, and put them up in a prominent place where you can see them. Repeat them out loud every day:

Key Scripture 1:

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant. . . .

Deuteronomy 8:18

Key Scripture 2:

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 John 2

Key Scripture 3:

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no

Proverbs 10:22

If you are faithful with your money, you don't need to fear financial problems. Prosperity is God's desire for you. As long as you function in accordance with His commandments, you will experience His financial blessings in your life.

Poverty Is Not Godly

If God's Word commanded us to be poor, we would obey. But God's Word does not advocate poverty!

Most Christians are operating in a poverty mentality, while the devil's crowd lives the best life possible.

In Ephesians, Paul talks about ”... the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18). The Greek word translated riches in this verse is ploutos. It is a form of a base word meaning to "fill." Its literal meaning is "money, possessions." Figuratively it refers to "abundance, riches, valuable bestowment."

Our inheritance as sons and daughters of the King of kings is a life free from want and poverty.

Read carefully what the Scripture says. Our inheritance is "... the riches of the glory of his [God’s] inheritance." Yet, most Christians are settling for the shells while the world eats the peanuts.

"The earth is the Lord’s..." (Psalm 24:1). God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but He doesn't eat hamburgers! Have you ever wondered what all those cows are for? They are for us, His children!

Poverty is not godly, and it certainly isn't biblical. God wants us to open our eyes to see the invisible world—to see the blessings He has in store for all those who love Him.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

2 Peter 1:3

Does gasoline pertain to life? Do shoes pertain to life? Does food pertain to life? Yes! Your Heavenly Father knows you have need of many material things.

It is no surprise to God that your car needs tires. It is no surprise to God that you need a coat when the temperature is below freezing. God intends for you to have all your needs supplied according to His riches in glory. In Christian circles, poverty may be popular, but it is not a biblical principle. Poverty goes against everything the Bible teaches and finds its roots, causes, and effects in its author, Satan.

The Best Things in Life Cost Money

Many times the devil invents a very spiritual-sounding phrase to try to keep the Church weak and floundering. Perhaps one of his most effective lies is: "The best things in life are free."

That simply is not true. The best things in life are not free. Our salvation was not free. God paid the ultimate price for it, the death of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Even Bibles come with a price. They cost money to print. Over the last 2,000 years, millions of dollars have been spent so men and women could have the Scripture in their hands.

Spreading the gospel costs money. Today, television and satellites are major vehicles to send the Word of God to other lands. It costs as much as $200,000 to rent just one channel on a satellite for one month. The message of the gospel is the best thing the world could possibly have, but it isn't free. Someone has to pay to get it to us.

The wonderful sermon at your local church on Sunday was not free! Your pastor probably receives a salary, and your church building needs light, heat, literature, pews, microphones and many other types of equipment. Somebody must pay for these things.

Sending people to the mission field costs money. The Apostle Paul discussed the need for Christians to come together with the necessary funds to send missionaries to other lands:

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? ...

Romans 10:14,15

Poverty Will Not Bring Happiness

Prosperity alone will never make you happy, but neither will poverty. Rich people commit suicide, take drugs, get drunk, and get divorces, but so do poor people.

There is nothing holy or happy about not having the money you need. Happiness has absolutely nothing to do with the presence or absence of material things, but unhappiness can come from a lack of certain material necessities, such as food, clothing and housing.

Happiness has to do primarily with the inner man. If you aren't happy on the inside, neither wealth nor poverty will make you happy. You see, neither money nor the lack of it will change your inner man. Being poor will never make you holy or happy.

If you are prosperous and have a Christ-controlled inner man, the Spirit of Christ within you will influence the way you spend your wealth. You will meet your own basic needs and wants, and you will support world mission projects, strategic television outreaches, special projects in your local church, and other gospel outreaches. You will be happy, because you will be accomplishing God's purpose with your money.

Poverty or wealth will not bring happiness. Happiness comes only from Jesus Christ. When you have Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, you will be able to bring much joy to the Body of Christ with the money you supply for the spreading of the gospel.

As you give to God, He will return your money to you so that you can give again to His purposes.

God Cares About Your Money

God cares about finances, but not the way the world cares. Remember, God's ways are not the world's ways (Isaiah 55:8).

The world's way of looking at a donation or gift is totally different from God's way. In the world, people who give the most money to a charitable project are honored with banquets, special plaques, ceremonial pins, and by naming buildings and hospital wings after them. They receive many outward recognitions that set them apart and reward them in accordance with how much they have given.

God takes special notice of the money we donate, but in a totally different way. Remember the poor widow who gave her two mites. Many others tossed much larger amounts into the treasury, but God honored the widow because she gave a greater percentage, or a greater portion, of her total finances to Him.

Jesus took very special notice of that widow. He even called the disciples to come and see.

... Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Mark 12:43,44

Notice the difference: the world recognizes how much you give. God recognizes how much you have left after you have given.

Isn't that comforting? God does care about your money. God sees how much you give and how much you have left. He also knows how much money you need to meet your needs each day.

As you give to Him and His work, He will take care of you. He will give back to you more than enough to meet your own needs, with plenty left over so that you can give to His work again.

God cares so much about your finances that if you will become obedient to His instructions in giving and receiving, He will immediately start to change your financial situation to get you out of debt and into abundance.

The best way to get out of debt and financial troubles is by giving to God. It doesn't matter how tight your finances are, or how unscriptural your giving may have been in the past. If you obey God now and give as He tells you, your financial problems will become financial blessings! God always gives back to you what you give to Him, and more.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal [measure] it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6:38

Remember, when you give generously to God, He is blessed by what you give and concerned about what you have left. As you give, God will provide you with more than enough to meet all of your needs and desires.

You Can Have More Than Enough

There is no true shortage on planet earth. However, there is a controlled shortage.

The diamond mine owners in South Africa meticulously control the number of diamonds they make available each year. They know diamonds would not be valuable if all the diamonds in the world appeared in the marketplace at the same time. These owners even buy back large quantities just to keep the price up.

The purpose of the oil cartel is to regulate and control the flow of oil into each country. They want to avoid a "glut" (excess supply) so the price won't go too low, reducing profits. The world's oil supply is in a constant state of controlled shortage to assure its high price.

Even our food production is in a controlled shortage. In North America, farmers are told which crops and in what quantity to grow them, as well as what to do with the surplus (the amount the government wants to keep out of circulation to keep prices at a "fair market" price). As a result, millions of bushels of grain are stored instead of sold. Many times, the surplus spoils while some people do not have enough to eat.

You see, to the world, the accumulation of money and the maintenance of good, high prices are the main goals.

In your own personal finances, you are also living in a controlled shortage. Right now, the mints are printing money so fast that the presses have to be oiled continually to keep them from catching on fire. That is how fast they are producing money. However, most people are limited to the little bit of cash in their pockets and checking accounts, the meager amount someone else decides is enough. As long as you keep a controlled-shortage mentality, you will not see beyond what is in your pocket or bank account.

You can unleash God's power and abundance into your financial affairs, and destroy the controlled shortage in your life.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Ephesians 3:20

Now, all of us know how to ask for some pretty nice things. God tells us to ask, and He says He can even supply beyond what we can think. Most of God's children are experiencing a shortage, but they are causing it by their own limited thinking! When will we open the eyes of our understanding?

God's storage houses are full to the brim and overflowing with His abundance. He says, "Just ask."

If we are going to properly finance the outreach of the Kingdom of God, we had better start seeing beyond our own limited supply. We must lift our eyes and look on God's abundant supply.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:11

Is money a good thing? Yes, when it is in the control of an informed child of God!

God wants to bless you with the grace of His salvation. God wants to bless you with good health. God wants to bless you with the power, comfort, and gifts of the Holy Ghost. He also wants to bless you with abundant finances!

God is not playing games. Now is the time to bring in the end-time harvest, but we cannot do that without huge amounts of money to pay for the things necessary to reap that harvest: television cameras, satellite receivers, salaries for the workers, church buildings, missionary outreaches. All that money must come from only one place, and that is from the saints of God who have taken hold of the financial blessings God intends for them to have.

Pornographic magazine publishers will not finance the end-time harvest. Big business is not going to pay for it.

It will take huge amounts of money—held in the control of God's children—to reap the great end-time harvest which I believe is coming very soon.

It is time for us to end the "controlled shortage mentality. " There is no shortage on planet earth. You can have more than enough.

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