Good Morning Church,

My name is Daniel, and I am really glad to share with you what the Lord has been doing in my heart as of late. I have been a Christian for about nine years but, grew up in a Christian home all my life. I was raised with Christian values and, by the grace of God, He kept me from a lot of worldly things. While growing up, I heard of these terms in church called 'tithes and offerings'. My parents gave their tithes and offerings off and on, and so did others who I considered faithful to the Lord. I have given my tithes and offerings before as well, but mostly it was only when it was convenient for me. When it came to the wire, I held back my first-fruits.

In recent years, even while being here in Metro, I held back what rightfully belonged to God. There were skewed reasons, but mostly it was my lack of trust in God with the finances in my life. I believe that this largely affected the area of stewardship in my life as well, but I refused to recognize that.  It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I broke free from the bondage I put myself in. 

Recently, in my spiritual life, I was in my roughest season. During that time, Aaron Law, a pastor here at Metro, had asked me how I was and we developed conversation over phone calls and texts. One particular Saturday, he called me and we got talking about the area of finances in my life because my finances were dismal. While we were talking, he asked me this question, “Well Daniel, have you been tithing?” After he asked that, I felt a gulp go down my throat. As hard as it was to answer, I told him 'no'. At this point, I haven’t tithed at all this year, so we figured that was reason I have not seen God work mightily in terms of finances.

Soon after, we discussed the scriptural implications of giving God what’s His. He shared with me Matthew 23:23 and also shared an example on how God was faithful to his needs when he was obedient to the Lord at a particular time with his finances. All in all, God began to fill my heart with the knowledge that I can trust Him again, and subsequently, I was stirred to give my first-fruits to my God the next week. From the following Friday until Sunday morning, I anticipated offering time for the first time in a lonnnng time. It was only because I had faith again to give God what was His. Last Sunday, I still had that joy, and today, it’s still there. To give something at all that is being sown into God’s kingdom is beyond me, and I am very thankful that He gives us the privilege to worship Him in this way.  To level with you, I still have my debt, I still have yet to pay anything towards my Thrive registration, and have room to grow in dealing with the money I am blessed with, so I am with many of you out there who are in financial trouble.  But if you trust in the Lord by acting out your faith and giving what is His, I can tell you, first hand, that it is the best thing you can do with your finances, giving your tithes and offerings. Why? Because if you know God is faithful to your needs then you know He WILL take care of you always according to 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 which states:

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And GOD IS ABLE to make all grace abound to you, so that having all SUFFICIENCY in ALL THINGS, at ALL TIMES, you may ABOUND in every good work.”

Thank you.

Daniel