Lay Minister Joseph L’Heureux

In these hard times or recession, it might be a good time to check out God’s precepts for our prosperity and well-being.

Abraham, or Abram as he was called, after a victory over his enemies, met Melchizedek, and in thanksgiving, gave him a tenth of the spoils of victory.

“And God blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of the most High God, possessor of heaven and earth.” [Genesis 14:19 and Hebrews 7:1]

This was a total stranger yet he recognized Him as one greater than himself. It turns out this Melchizedek was a high priest of God, he who had no beginning or end.

The Lord spokes to Moses and said, “When you receive the tithe from the Israelites, which I have given you as an inheritance, you will set a portion of this tithe aside for the Lord: A tithe of the tithe, for the Lord, this will be your tithe to the Lord … thus you too will set aside a portion for the Lord … You will not incur sin by doing so, once you have set aside the best, for the Lord, and you will not incur death.” [Numbers 18:25-32]

The book of Proverbs, a book full of wisdom says, “Honour the Lord with what goods you have and with first fruits of all your produce: then your barns will be filled with corn, your vats overflowing with new wine.” [Proverbs 3:9-10]

Let’s see what the prophet Malachi speaks on behalf of God. The Lord says, “No, I the Lord do not change … Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have evaded my statutes and not observed them . . . Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts. How are we to return? Can a human being cheat God? Yet you try to cheat me! You ask, how do we cheat you? Over tithes, offerings and contributions. A curse lies on you because you, this whole nation, try to cheat me. Bring the tithes in full to the treasury, so that there is food in my house; Put me to the test now like this,” says the Lord of Hosts and see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you and pour out an abundant blessing for you.” [Malachi 3:6-10]

Sounds harsh, does it? Yet these are actually, loving words of correction for our own good.

Consider the following alternative or consequences.

King David the psalmist writes, “Forty years I endured that generation … I said they are a people whose hearts go astray and they do not know my ways … So I swore in my anger they will not enter into my rest.” [Psalm 95: 10-11]

You may say how can the Lord bless me, when I am on this fixed income, a senior’s cheque, or an unemployment cheque or a very meager salary?
What’s missing is usually our faith.

The disciples said to Jesus increase our faith. The Lord responded, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea. And it would obey you.” [Luke 17: 5-6]

The amazing thing is yes, He can. He will give you a blessing which surpasses all understanding. It can come to you in riches, joy or good health. Most of all it will come to you in wisdom, to keep us from spending foolishly, or give us the knowledge to stretch our every dollar.

Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and have in abundance.” [John 10:10]

Like he says in the book Malachi 3:10: “Test me in this.”

From personal experience I can attest this works, living on no salary for 15 years, I was able to tithe on recycled bottles and cans, usually an income of $100-150 a week. During that period of time, I went to Rome twice, Israel, Medjugorje and Mexico. The last two locations were where Mother Mary was appearing or where she had appeared. All of these were gifts from God’s abundance.

Twenty five years of struggling on my own power or earnings, I managed only two trips, one a wedding gift to Hawaii, and one to Puerto Rico won in a sales contest.

When I placed my faith in God’s suggestion to tithe, I learned of His abundance.

This thanksgiving, did you thank God for His abundance and blessings?

God Bless.