I am going to wade into a controversial subject. The whole idea of God blesses those who give. Some are teaching today that God will make them wealthy in this world if they give financially to a church or ministry of some kind.

There are certainly many scriptures which tell us that God blesses His people and desires to give us blessings. Proverbs 3:9-10 says "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine." At first glance this would seem to be a simple formula give some to God and He will give you back more.

Some people are using that message to encourage people to give as a way to get rich themselves. But that is a message that is wrong at the very root. When you start with the truths that we are here to bring Glory to God and to fulfill His purposes - there is no place for living a formula that ends with the intention of me becoming wealthy for my purposes.

Instead - God uses our giving to do His will in the earth for His Kingdom. God uses all kinds of people to do His work whether rich, poor or in between the issue is not how much we have but is our heart to give it for Him. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 gives us a fuller picture of giving - both God's purpose and our role. "10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

We do not know who God will make rich in worldly wealth; but if He does it will be so we can be generous to others which leads to God being glorified. So giving to God is not a formula to get rich - it is simply the pathway of a person who desires to do God's will and see God's Kingdom grow. Then we see that God blesses in ways that keeps our heart towards Him - not to satisfy our earthly desires.

Now you can see in Proverbs 3:9-10 that the one who "honors the Lord with his wealth" was not a person looking for God to make them rich. Instead it is a person who understands that true riches come in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ."

May we all be people who have a heart to give and may God bless us with Heavenly blessings in Jesus Christ.