Aren't we entitled?

"Thank Goodness we don't get all the Government we pay for"--Will Rogers

Wow, Will Rogers said that quite awhile ago. I think we are getting close to getting all the government we pay for now days. We pay allot in taxes these days, and , it seems, more everyday. I sure wish the Government worked like God. You know, He asks for His money back if the form of tithes, but He is the one who gave it to us in the first place. Actually that seems to be what some politicians want here in the USA, huge government where the majority of the citizens work for "The Man" in some form or another, thereby paying our taxes in money we got from the Government in the first place. Money going from one pocket to another, isn't that what makes Government worthwhile?

I saw a cartoon in the paper the other day, two older men were sitting on a park bench, one reading the paper. The gentleman with the paper said, "would you look at that, for the first time in history, the national debt is almost as much as the GDP ( Gross domestic product (GDP) refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period.) " The other man laughed and said: "Well Obama promised he would balance the budget, I guess this is what he meant!!?" Did you know in the bible we are told to stay away from debt? Romans 13:8
" Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law." Is this possible in today's world, to owe nothing? How big is your faith? How much can you trust God? How wise are you at saving until you can purchase those "Big" items? Please don't think I am being preachy, I struggle with money issues as bad or worse then some of you. I am very selfish, a thing God is working on in me, I see things and I want them now!

God tells us to "Owe nothing to anyone,..........but we have a obligation to love one another......" He put love higher then owning a home on a 30 year note. He put love over having a nice car and making payments for 10 years. He put love before sending our kids to THAT University and taking out Parents Loans to make sure they can go. God's priorities are much different then ours, aren't they? Yes, He wants our kids to succeed, He wants us to have a nice house to live in, He wants us to have a decent car to drive, BUT where is our heart? In the fact that we have all these things, or in the fact that we love and share all these things with those that God loves and cares for? Besides if there was a fire at your expensive house, what would be most important? The possessions or your family? Hopefully your family.

Have you, like me, ever had this thought: If I won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes of 1 Million dollars, I would pay my tithes of course, let's see that would be 100,000, that leaves 900,000, I would give some to my kids of course, Joel really needs a new car. Then I would buy my daughter a house or condo, .............." IF God did allow you to win or me for that matter, do you think He would want you to spend it all on you and your family? What if He wanted you to give three fourths to the church, that would be 750,000. Leaving you with just a little, 250,000. What if God wanted you to give it ALL to different people? What would you do? When we give God our finances, we give Him everything else. I did forget to take out the taxes above, the Government as usual would take quite a lot of it first.

I have a confession to make. I have just been paying my tithes regularly for the past 8 months or so. My Church started letting us pay on line. When they did this, I sat up a system to have the tithes come out automatically. I don't see the tithes, it just goes to the church. I have struggled with tithing for most of my adult life. I have not done a very good job of it. But, I am proud of myself, for I have been consistent for the last 8 or so months. Has God rewarded me? Not really, nothing new has come along. Has He let me win the Publishers Clearing House? No, but I always enter, you never know! Have all my personal bills been supplied? Yes. Have I had need of anything since I have been obedient to Him? NO. In fact, God has told me that I just now have started doing what He expects from all His children. Rewards come in the offerings, the "above and beyond", or "over the top" giving. Tithing is giving back to God what is already His. The whole thing is His, He just asks for 10% back. Sure, He could just deduct that Himself, but He wants us to give freely out of love and obedience to Him.

I am going to take Will Rogers quote from above and change it a little: "Thank goodness we don't get all the God we pay for". You see if this were true, and we Got just what we payed for, how little we would get.

Giving to the Lord, is not what all ministries are about, much to many peoples surprise. Giving to Him has two main reasons. There are bills to be paid by the church, or ministry, and it shows God that we are obedient and willing to do what He has told us to do.

Think what you want about our Government, But God is the one we serve, He is the one who supplies all our needs. I saw a T-shirt on line the other day, it said something like: "God, not government, shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory" Philippines 4:19. Loved it, still thinking about ordering it.

Put your trust in God, NOT Washington DC. Why is that so hard?