Faithful Stewardship

When Ruth Matete won the 5million shillings from the Tusker Project fame reality show, my young brother was so ecstatic. He started telling me how if it were him, he would buy a Ferrari ( which I was skeptical about because he wouldn’t be able to drive for 15years because he wasn’t legal), a house, a boat, a castle and the cherry on top, a candy factory because he loves his sweets. I listened to him carefully till he finished then reminded him that he would buy all that after he had tithed. He raised his eyebrows, and asked me how much.

I grabbed my phone and together we started calculating 10% of 5,000,000 which is Sh 500,000. And my, oh my, you should have seen his shocked face. Mouth ajar and eyes popping. “Cynthia, I am taking all this to church?” he asked. “Yes.” I answered. “God says we give him 10% per cent of our earnings and Ruth’s great singing has earned her that 5million.” Steve was in denial. He couldn’t believe that he would have to give Sh 500,000 of his 5million to the church.

I found his reaction interesting and the next day I asked some friends of mine if they would tithe the Sh 500,000. Some were skeptical, others straight away said yes and others said they were not sure. I would tithe the Sh500, 000 in a heartbeat even, because that cash is a blessing I received through God’s grace and favor and what other way to say thank you than to give it back to him. After all in Malachi 3:8-10 he explicitly tells us not to rob him and to ensure His house never lacks food and in return He will open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

On Sunday, I attended a service at CITAM (formerly NPC) Buru Buru and they were concluding their 40 day series on Stewardship. I am glad I caught this last series because they were talking about being a good steward by keeping God’s command of diligently giving tithe and offering. 

As always God’s command is accompanied by a promise as it is written in Malachi 3:9-10 where God says, “You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that they 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.”

When I read that and saw If I don’t fulfill this command I Rob God, I didn’t want to be that kind of criminal. Who really wants to rob God, huh? Not me.

Some of the lessons I learnt from the sermon.

Tithing:

a) helps the extension of the Kingdom Malachi 3:10 “ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that they may be food in my house

b) it’s a blessing to me Malachi 3:10 “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.” There is a blessing when you choose to be faithful, Malachi 3:6-12 it’s the only time God tells us to test him if we tithe.

Being a faithful steward gives me access to God's resources. Matthew 25-parable of the talent-that's why some believers are rich (blessed) and others aren't. Tithing is the key.

In Acts 10:1 we read about Cornelius, who was a diligent steward and God made the heavens open up to him. ( I fully recommend you read the passage)

7 FOLD BLESSING FOUND IN TITHING

1. Open heaven (Malachi 3:10)

2. Blessing poured out. (Malachi 3:10)

3. Blessings of over flowing abundance (Malachi 3:10)

4. Blessings of assured income (Malachi 3:11)

5. Blessings of assured productivity. (Malachi 3:11)

6. Blessings of honor and recognition (Malachi 3:12)

7. Blessings of happiness and joy (Malachi 3:12)

Tithing is a command from God, and just as God’s commands are-it is accompanied by a promise and immense blessings. You may be the one standing in the way of your blessing, so do tithe and watch what the Lord will do for you.

Princess Nereah