Breaking the Cycle of Financial Struggles: God's Path to Abundance, Part 3

Practicing the law of abundance in the Kingdom of God involves several fundamental steps. So far, we have established that we need a strong foundation by dedicating ourselves to wholeheartedly serving and loving God, aligning our lives with His Word, and actively living out His teachings. This immersion in God's Word is crucial as it serves as the bedrock of our journey. To gain deeper insights, I recommend revisiting Part 1 and Part 2. Here are the key takeaways in a nutshell:

• Wholehearted Devotion: The journey towards abundance begins with wholehearted devotion to God. This devotion encompasses not only love but also unwavering commitment. As the Scriptures remind us in Mark 12:30 (NIV), "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." It's the cornerstone on which the law of abundance is built, as it sets the stage for a profound connection with the Creator.

• Embracing His Word: Building a strong foundation involves immersing yourself in God's Word. Just as a building's stability relies on its foundation, our lives are strengthened by the unshakable Word of God. Dive deeply into the Scriptures, aligning your thoughts and actions with His precepts. Psalm 119:105 (NIV) guides us, saying, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

• Sowing and Reaping: The principle of sowing and reaping is not limited to financial matters; it extends to shaping the very world we inhabit. This universal law dictates that the seeds we sow in various aspects of life produce a harvest that mirrors our actions. Galatians 6:7 (NIV) echoes this: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Understand that sowing goes beyond finances and encompasses the entirety of our existence.

By diligently adhering to these three principles, we not only establish the groundwork for the law of abundance but also engage in shaping our world, bringing forth God's blessings and aligning with His divine plan for our lives. Now, let's proceed to the next step in constructing our spiritual house upon the foundations mentioned earlier.

James 1:22 (NIV): "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." This verse emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the Word but putting it into practice.

Tithing transcends mere financial giving; it's a spiritual covenant between you and Heaven. When you tithe, it's not merely a contribution to a religious institution or charity; it's a sacred transaction with God Himself. This practice is deeply rooted in scripture, particularly in Malachi 3:10, where God's promise of opening the windows of heaven is linked to tithing: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."

However, a failure to tithe, as indicated in Malachi 3:8-9, carries scriptural consequences: "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you." This underscores the significance of tithing in the spiritual realm and the potential for financial challenges when one neglects this sacred practice.

Furthermore, the withholding of the tithe opens the door for the "devourer," as mentioned in Malachi 3:11: "I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts." This "devourer" represents the dark spiritual force that can bring oppression and hinder the abundance that God intends for His faithful followers.

Tithing, on the other hand, safeguards against the devourer and paves the way for God's blessings to flow abundantly.

In the Garden of Eden, God granted Adam dominion over everything, with one exception—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree was set apart as sacred, reserved for God alone. God instructed Adam not to eat from it, emphasizing that it belonged exclusively to Him. In Genesis 2:16-17 (ESV), we find the divine command: "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'"

This passage underlines that when we take or touch what God has reserved or explicitly instructed us not to partake of, there are consequences. 

Just as Adam was told not to touch the tree that belonged to God alone, the act of withholding one's tithe is akin to taking something that God has reserved for Himself. This transgression carries consequences, symbolized by the curse.

In the same way that Adam's disobedience resulted in losing access to the entire garden, failing to honor the covenant of tithing can lead to the loss of God's intended blessings and abundance in one's life. The question posed, "Will a man rob God?" serves as a profound reminder of the sacred nature of the tithe and the importance of honoring it as a covenant with God.

Just as it is written in Proverbs 6:30-31, when a thief takes something that doesn't belong to him, they are required to give back sevenfold, even if it costs him dearly. In the same way, withholding your tithe is akin to robbing God. When you don't faithfully give back to God what belongs to Him, you're essentially taking what is not yours. And just as the thief must pay back sevenfold, neglecting your tithes may lead to spiritual and material loss, as God's blessings are withheld. So, remember, tithing is a sacred obligation, not to be robbed from, but to be faithfully returned to God.

Even if you possess the most prosperous business, failing to tithe leaves you vulnerable to unforeseen storms that could potentially disrupt your success. Without faithfully tithing, you inadvertently grant permission to the devourer to wreak havoc on your business endeavors. If you've been spared from such trials, it's a testament to God's mercy, at this point, but it's crucial to align yourself with His Word.

Tithing provides a spiritual shield, safeguarding both your life and your business.

It's important never to be part of a congregation without sowing into the life of the ordained spiritual leader whom God has appointed over you for blessings and guidance. This falls under the Law of Honor and is a whole different but powerful subject.

Another divine application for the law of abundance is where the Bible instructs us to honor our fathers and mothers, and in doing so, we receive a promise of long and well-lived days. Our parents deserve our generous support, both spiritually and financially. It's regrettable to witness many young individuals facing difficulties and struggles due to their failure to honor their parents. Such actions can indeed result in self-imposed curses upon their lives.

Here is the full scripture:

Exodus 20:12 (ESV): "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." This scripture emphasizes the significance of honoring our parents, which not only aligns with God's commandments but also carries a promise of abundant and well-lived days as a reward. Failure to honor them can indeed have negative consequences in one's life.

Ephesians 6:2-3 (ESV): "Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Honoring parents is not only a commandment but also a promise of prosperity and long life.

Disregarding or dishonoring parents is not only a violation of a commandment but also comes with a warning of adversity and a potentially shorter life.

There comes a point in one's life when the burden of poverty becomes unbearable. The constant struggle of living paycheck to paycheck can wear a person down. When you reach that moment of realization, when you think that something must change, you have a choice to make. You can choose to embrace the principles of tithing, honoring, and adopting a Kingdom of God mindset, seeking a life aligned with Godly values.

Alternatively, you might opt to chase after worldly wealth, forsake your principles, and surround yourself with darkness and unsavory company, all the while finding that your pursuit of riches leaves you with empty pockets and unfulfilled. The choice ultimately lies with you.

When you've had your fill of the nonsense and are truly weary, it's time to take yourself to the altar with an attitude that says, "I will obey You, Lord, no matter what." With unwavering determination, you stand before God and declare, "Here I am, and here is my tithe. If you choose to slay me, then so be it. If I perish, I perish, but I am weary, Lord." You must reach a point in your life where you are exhausted enough to test God once and for all, as He instructed in Malachi. Kneel before Him, change your mindset, and, if the Bible proclaims that seedtime and harvest shall not cease, and if God is indeed true to His word, you can return to your seat with a heart full of laughter, knowing that by trusting and surrendering to God's will, you are entering into the abundance He has promised, unaffected by the greed and doubt of humankind. Trust in the unwavering Word of God.

No matter how much I write and study this subject, its depth remains endless. God's Word is truly astounding, incredible, powerful, guiding, protective, and life-saving, among its countless attributes. It endlessly unfolds new insights; you can never exhaust any topic within the Word of God. It serves as an eternal wellspring of teachings, brimming with revelation upon revelation upon revelation.

Amanda Allen

www.KingdomRevelations.com