2 Chronicles 31-33

May 18

2 Chronicles 31-33

Author Larry Burkett used to say that our finances are an outside indicator of an inside condition. Our spiritual lives are reflected in our opinion of, and use of our money. Hezekiah was king when a great revival came over Jerusalem. It is important to note that the king gave of his own possessions for the offerings made at the temple each day. He in turn called on the people to give their tithe and to devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. The people responded and “brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.” (vs. 5) In return, God blessed the nation and there was an abundance in the land. There was so much that the offerings were piled in heaps.

Jesus said; "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”" (Luke 6:38, NIV) When we trust God with our best, with the first of what we get, He in turn will bless us so we have enough with what is left over. It is difficult to let go of our finances or material possessions and to trust God with them. But if we cannot let go, we are, by our actions saying we trust in our finances or material possessions more than we trust God.

In the book of Malachi chapter 3 verses 6-12 God talks about the cost of cheating Him and the blessings of trusting Him. Then in verse 10 he says; "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (Malachi 3:10, NIV) Throughout the bible we see that when the people of God trusted God and willingly gave to God, He blessed them and provided for them in abundance.

What we do with our finances. What we do with our possessions. Not just our giving in the church offering, but how we use the gifts given us, reveals what we really believe about God. Do we trust God or do we just say we trust God?