If You Do It His Way You Will Prosper

"And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 The Lord has given powerful promises to us to encourage us to trust him. If we are seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness we will, in addition, have our needs met. "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things SHALL be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33 There are several passages in Scripture that address promises of provision. This subject is addressed in the book of Malachi in which the Lord has said that we are to bring him a tenth of whatever income we have, to supply the needs of the church. He asks for 10 percent. We get to keep 90 percent. If anyone is in poverty, let him examine himself to make sure he is doing his part. Some people recoil at this but I have never known a person who tithes - to be poor. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are CURSED WITH A CURSE, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and TRY 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 such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes..." Malachi 3:8-11 Has there always been something arising that devours what you have? Here God promises to rebuke the devourer for anyone obeying his command to bring him the tithe, because in doing so, one shifts his trust from the world, to the Lord. This is the only place in the Bible where God invites us to "try" him. Some might complain that we are not to be under the law. And I agree with that. But this passage is not from the law. Malachi was a prophet. Why does God ask this of us? In giving the Lord his tithe, we are acknowledging that our trust is in him, not in our ability to produce wealth. It's a choice, an act of faith. In the first place, it is God who gives a person the ability to produce wealth: "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is HE who gives you power to get wealth..." Deuteronomy 8:18 But all too often a person ascribes his wealth to his own talents and abilities, and this is the awful pride of man. But when we give to God what he has asked, we are transferring our trust to HIM, not to ourselves. There is yet another Scripture telling us how to prosper: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they PROSPER who love you." Psalm 122:6 In loving Jerusalem, one is again placing his trust in the God of Israel, and especially so in these days when the whole world is turning against her. Israel belongs to God, and to his people the Jewish people. It's not politically correct these days to believe that - but that's what separates the world from the believers. It's always about turning from the philosophies of the world and instead believing the Word of God. Search the Scriptures for in them you will find the many promises God has given us, all of which will be contrary to human nature and all of them, if followed, will bring blessings like you've never known before because you're taking yourself off the throne and placing your whole trust in the Lord.