His Riches in Glory

The LORD shall provide

The Bible promises us that God's goodness will meet all of our needs. This verse emphasizes that every requirement we have will be fulfilled from God's abundant wealth in glory, his riches in heavenly places, through Christ Jesus.

The Blessing of the LORD

God has blessed us to inherit abundant financial provision as promised in His word. But to access this promise of divine provision in our lives, we must first commit to embracing and closely following the principles, the ways, of God's eternal kingdom, which are found through study of HIs word.

As we walk with the LORD, ponder His word, heed His promises, and trust Him with all our heart, the Lord will bless us, not only with the spiritual blessings that come by salvation through Christ, but will also bless us financially and materially.

Kingdom Economics

The kingdom of God has its own financial system of economics. And the financial system of heaven stands in stark contrast to the earthly system. While the world teaches and encourages the hoarding of wealth for personal gain, Jesus teaches us that giving leads to receiving.

So then, to embrace the way of heaven, one must first undergo a shift in mindset and adopt a new way of thinking. Changing our thinking becomes easier when we recognize that earthly economics is based upon scarcity or the managing of limited resources, whereas heavenly economics is based on the abundance of heaven itself, that is, God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

By now, it should be clear that navigating the economic system of God's kingdom relies on faith in Christ, not on secular understandings of financial principles.

I will give you rest

Who is this passage of scripture addressed to? To all who labor and are heavy laden. From a spiritual perspective, this clearly refers to the heavy burden of sin that unsaved people carry, which can be alleviated by coming to Jesus. However, it also speaks to the physical toil, the labor, involved in surviving in this world, a labor that resulted from Adam's fall from grace.

The LORD had told Adam, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread all the days of your life." From that moment, humanity faced a new challenge for survival. Think about it: Adam, who had the entire world at his disposal, had to labor intensely until his face was covered with sweat, just to eat a few bites of bread each day.

Jesus said, "Come to Me, learn from Me, and I will give you rest." He invites us to yoke ourselves with Him, and promises to show us a less burdensome way. He says, “I will give you rest.”

So, to enter into heaven’s financial system is to enter into rest. But we must first learn about it and have an understanding of how it operates. Then, we must apply the principles we’ve learned in our lives, trusting that the LORD's word is true and absolutely trustworthy.

First Fruit

Tithing, sometimes referred to as the giving of the first fruit, is the practice of giving ten percent of one's income to the storehouse, which typically refers to the local church, the place where spiritual nourishment is received on a regular basis.

This passage underscores God's faithfulness to bless those who tithe, by opening heaven and pouring out the blessings of heaven, and also ensuring fruitful productivity. He says that the fruit of your vine, the fruit of your labor, will not be destroyed or die in the field. In other words, you will be blessed and successful in all that you set your hands to.

I will rebuke the Devourer

Who is the devourer? The word devourer refers to the enemy of our souls: the devil, the wicked one, the one who deceived in the Garden of Eden, leading to humanity's downfall and the resulting curse of poverty and difficult struggle.

Jesus exposes the thief, the devourer, the one whose purpose is to steal, and kill, and destroy. Conversely, Jesus offers us abundant life, abundant blessing, free from the thief's treachery and destructive efforts.

The Promises of God

Covenant is a two-way proposition. God's promises operate through a covenant where He fulfills His commitments when we fulfill ours. This is a reciprocal relationship, and it demands our obedience and trust in His promises. A scripture that offers a promise is fulfilled in us through faith and our response to the promise.

Yes and Amen

Notice that the "yes" and the "amen," the positive response and the affirmative agreement, are given "by us." Without our agreement and action, the promise remains just that . . . a promise, an unfulfilled promise.

Alms for the Poor

Scripture consistently highlights the act of giving to the poor as being pivotal to our success.

According to this passage, the one who regularly gives to the poor SHALL NEVER LACK. That’s an astounding promise, and it strongly confirms the positive impact of charitable acts on one's financial well-being.

There are numerous scripture verses and passages that reiterate this promise. Jesus spoke about the blessings associated with giving.

If we practice giving, then according to Jesus, we will receive abundantly for it. He also points out that our receiving is directly proportional to the measure of our giving. If we give a little, we will receive a small amount. If we give generously, we will receive more abundantly.

The apostle Paul emphasized this principle when he spoke to the Corinthian church about an offering he was collecting for the saints in Jerusalem who had suffered from a famine.

Tithing versus Giving

What is the difference between tithes and offerings? Tithes are a scriptural requirement, compulsory and obligatory, while offerings, referred to in the Bible as alms, are given freely at the discretion of the giver. And they are given over and above what is given for the tithe. Once the tithe is paid, the offerings can begin to be given.

Eternal Investments

Jesus advises against storing up earthly treasures that are susceptible to decay and theft, urging instead to store up treasures in heaven where they remain secure and enduring.

Treasures in Heaven

Laying up treasures on earth means storing or saving valuable items for future use, such as depositing money in a savings account, accumulating large amounts of clothing in a closet, or storing up hay, seeds, and produce in a barn.

Jesus said, however, to lay up treasures, or valuable things, in heaven, or in heavenly, unseen places. From the context, we can infer that these treasures, these stored up things of value, will be available for use at a later time, when needed.

How are we to do that? How are we to lay up treasures, valuable things, in heavenly, unseen places?

Giving to the Poor

Jesus instructs us to give alms, perform good deeds, and help the needy, thereby storing up heavenly treasures that are immune to material decay and loss.

And if unable to give at the moment, He advises, if need be, selling something and donating the proceeds to the needy. And He assures us that in doing so, we will create for ourselves bags, eternal money bags in heavenly places, impervious to theft, corruption, or depreciation. Now that’s financial security.

Challenges of Wealth

Jesus speaks again about the principle of laying up treasure in heaven when He encounters a wealthy young man who is seeking advice about what good thing he must do to have eternal life.

This passage illustrates the difficulty for the affluent to surrender possessions to gain spiritual treasure, highlighting our need to overcome earthly attachments for heavenly rewards. It’s far easier to put our trust in the riches we have on hand than to give some of that wealth away to have riches in unseen places. That’s perfectly natural. But the concepts of tithing and giving help us by targeting the natural covetousness that exists within every human being.

The Natural Man

The principles outlined in Scripture regarding finances and provision emphasize a spiritual approach that contradicts conventional wisdom. Jesus' teachings require us to rethink how we view wealth, possessions, and generosity.

Seek First the Kingdom

The kingdom of God operates on principles that transcend human logic, emphasizing spiritual wisdom over worldly understanding. By embracing these principles of tithing and giving and trust in God's promised provision, we align ourselves with His purposes, and we begin to experience His abundant blessings.