(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)
“You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears.
They came as a whirlwind to scatter me,
gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
You trampled the sea with your horses,
churning mighty waters.
I heard, and my body trembled.
My lips quivered at the voice.
Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place
because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble,
for the coming up of the people who invade us.
For even though the fig tree doesn’t flourish,
nor fruit be in the vines,
the labor of the olive fails,
the fields yield no food,
the flocks are cut off from the fold,
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in Yahweh.
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength.
He makes my feet like deer’s feet,
and enables me to go in high places.”
(Habakkuk 3:14-19)
“But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. However you did well that you shared in my affliction. You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account. But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.”
(Philippians 4:10-20)
Whether we are given the best things or nothing, God is to be praised. Israel was facing invasion. Defeat. From a wicked people. They cried out for mercy. They cried out wondering why these wicked people were triumphing. But the deeper cry was one of worship. That whether things would go their way (being delivered) or go against them (judgment for their breaking of the covenant), God was worthy to be praised. That He could be worshipped and relied on in all circumstances. That He would protect them even in an exile. Even in a punishment. God was God, and nothing here on Earth could change that.
Paul learned to worship God and be content in all circumstances. He learned it by leaning into God first and foremost. That means that whether materially he had a little or materially he had a lot, he was rejoicing for the abundance that he had. Because prosperity is more than money. It is more than a nice situation. It is a fullness of God in your life. A complete package reaching into every corner and bringing not only joy from His strength, but satisfaction and contentment. We give thanks for that. We give offerings to God to demonstrate our thanks and participate in His economy. We bless those around us and are blessed in turn, worshipping Him and rejoicing that He is our source. He is our supply. And He ALWAYS meets our needs (3 John 2).
Summary
Tithes and offerings aren’t a burden. They are an opportunity to give to God and prove to ourselves that we are relying on Him. That we believe what He says when He says we will be blessed because of our giving. It isn’t about making a human ministry financially secure. It is about letting God be Lord of our wallets as well as our spirits. It’s acknowledging that He is in control. That we can joyfully give whatever He asks of us – be it a little or a lot. Because when we are relying on Him, it doesn’t matter. He’ll replace anything He asks us to give, whether it is like for like or something else. He will always take care of our needs. He will always look out for us. He will always be there. He will enable us to be content, happy, cheerful, and rejoicing in Him. It looks different for everyone and it changes depending on where exactly we are and what exactly is going on, but the principle always remains truthful: God takes care of us and so we should celebrate that and worship Him with our giving because He will never let our needs go unmet.
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