Righteous Cash flow

14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

Leverage, self esteem and comfort. The American dream of prosperity. It is what I was in all out pursuit of when I got out of college. All of it was designed to make a name for myself. To prove to the world how great I was. Later, when I got involved in a church the same mentality carried with me.

All of my offerings of time, money and abilities were superficially given in the name of God, but my heart demanded recognition for me. Those things were hypocritically given to God, but only so that I might get something in return.

I look back at those times and thank God that He did not just strike me down. I deserved it and more.

After coming to passionatley love Christ late in my life all of these things changed. Money is his and is fun to give. Time spent teaching, ministering, serving and preaching are wonderful opportunities to point people to Christ. What was once a labor that my cold heart demanded a quid pro quo return on, is now just a privilege to be a part of His grace.

David's heart communicates this clearly in the passage above.
>It is all God's any way
>He gave it to you to see the integrity of your faith as you can bless others
>We all die soon and our life is a "shadow" that quickly passes
>What an honor it is to give a gift (that is His anyway) back to God in praise

This is exactly what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 " Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I want to be careful as I type this, but I would ask you to pray through what this means in your heart. What God has shown me is this: he does not need me, my time, or my money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the whole universe to boot. He simply desires a Heart to love Him and praise Him. Once he has REGENERATED our hearts, we will gladly give what is His back to Him with nothing in return except an opportunity to praise Him and the satisfaction that provides.

So what about you? Do you think your tithes and offerings are yours or His? If you give, do you think it should "Buy" you a say in things around your church? Is your church service done in a forced labor with no life because you have to do it? Or is it done because you Get to worship God? Do you enjoy giving to God, the one who gives you your next breath, or do you enjoy getting for yourself?

Jeremiah 13:23 asks " Can a leopard change His spots?" You can not either. Only Christ can change our hearts with His grace. Do you want Him to?