The scriptures teach us clearly that our God is a God of covenants. As such, He deals with His people through covenants (e.g., Gen 9:9; Gen 15:18). In its simplest form, a covenant is a binding agreement between two or more parties. One aspect of God’s overall covenant with His people is the area of their finances, which is the focus of this article.
At the outset, it is important to note and state that God has a financial covenant with every believer. If this premise is true, then by reciprocal extension, it follows that every believer should have a financial covenant with his/her local church. Historically, the area of finances has been an area of tremendous misunderstanding, controversy, conflict and skepticism within the body of Christ. As a result, sound biblical financial stewardship has become a “lost art,” or practice within the modern day church. This article aims to shed some light on this very controversial area, in the hopes of liberating the people of God from mindsets and practices that have left us with a legacy of financial impotence, which I argue is not the Will of God.
There are three critical components in God’s financial covenant with every believer (you):

• First Fruits (Prov 3:9)
• The Tithe (Mal 3:6-15)
• Freewill Offerings (Ex 35:29)

Each of these components is tied to particular (divine) covenant promises and blessings.

The First Fruits is really about (individual) increase. It is the first aspect of God’s financial covenant with the believer because the first part of anything in the life of the believer really belongs to God. This is where and how the believer honors God with the first fruits, or first part of their increase. In other words, the believer is really saying to God, I recognize you to be the true owner and giver of everything that I have, and will ever have, and as such, I am honoring you with the first part of all my increases in life (Proverbs 3:9). The first fruit offering is very powerful because it is the first fruits that really guarantee the remainder of the believer’s harvest. In honoring the Lord with the first fruits/first part of all your increases, the writer says (because you do this) your “barns will be full…….” (Proverbs 3:10).
The second component of God’s financial covenant with believers is the Tithe. The tithe is defined as “a tenth” or the tenth part. It is separate from the first fruits and the freewill offering. This particular component God says is His- it belongs to Him. Because it is God’s, it automatically becomes consecrated, dedicated or devoted in its very nature. This really means that no one else has a right to touch, take or use “the consecrated/devoted thing,” for themselves; else they run the risk of becoming “accursed,” or “doomed to destruction.” The tithe is the power aspect of the financial covenant. It is where the believer acts in obedience to God, and gives God what God says is His. In response to the believer’s obedience and faith, God gives the believer the “power to get wealth.” He does not give him/her wealth, but he gives the power – i.e., strategies, ideas, concepts, insights etc. to obtain wealth. It is in response to the tithe that God says he would “open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on you.”
References

• Genesis 14:20
• Leviticus 27:30-32
• Numbers 18:21,26
• Deuteronomy 14:22-29
• Malachi 3:6-12
• Matthew 22:21

The final aspect of the financial covenant is the Freewill Offering (Ex 35:29). This is the exchange aspect of the covenant. Here, the believer freely decides what he/she wants to give to God and proceeds to do that. God then takes what the believer has given, and exchanges it for what he/she needs. Offerings can be as much as, or even greater than the tithe. That is to say, there is no specific limit on the amount a believer can decide to give.

The first quarter of this year (Jan – Mar) is the quarter for first fruits at Rhema. Specifically, our man of God, Pastor Orim M. Meikle has designated this quarter as a time when he asks all covenant members of Rhema to honor the Lord with their first paycheque of the year, or the first fruit of the year, at the beginning or head of the year. In so doing, he wants to ensure that every member of Rhema secures their harvest for the rest of the year. We are moving into a year when we are believing God for all possibilities. I trust that you will partner with us, as we press towards practicing sound biblical financial stewardship. I also trust that this brief exposition has provided you with a better understanding of your financial covenant with God.

Wealth Management:  A Biblical Perspective for Us Today

In a church like Rhema Christian Ministries and at its present stage, Wealth management is unique. Some of the principles here apply universally; I hear the Spirit of God speaking to us, as He did to the children of Israel in the book of Haggai and chapters 1 and 2. The work of building the temple was not moving as fast as it should. The Lord spoke. “This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built” Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? Consider your ways! You have sown much and bring in little, you eat but do not have enough, he who earns wages earns wages to put into a bag with holes. Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, You looked for much but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away, Why? Because of My house which is in ruins. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew and the earth withholds its fruit”. Hag 1:2-12
 
The people obeyed God, brought what was needed and began to build. Then God spoke again. “I will shake the heaven and earth, the sea and dry land and all nations, the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this temple with glory. The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine. I will shake heaven and earth.  I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms”. Hag 2:6-22

For the believer, tithing is a foundational principle. In order to experience the fullness of the promised blessing, we need to give God full access to the remaining 90%. As He bids, so we must do. The blessing lies in obedience to the Spirit of God; for it is not about the amount but percentages and obedience. The widow (Mark 12:42) gave two mites but it was 100% and it was sacrificial. Here’s what the scripture says about sacrificial giving - Psalm 126:1-6. We all love the first 3 verses, however notice that in verse 4,  prayer was first made; verses 5 and 6 tells us how the captivity was turned around: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him”.

Since Project Stepping Stones started, what amount of wood have you brought for God’s temple? What sacrifice have you made to ensure that the temple of God is built?  God wants a building of magnificent splendor- that captures the glory He spoke of in Hag 2:7. He declares in verse 8, that the silver and gold belong to Him. He wants beauty in His house, let us come together to build Gods house. This is our starting point for wealth management in this season. Consider your ways, return to God, and ask him what He wants you to do as an individual, so that His temple is built; and let us watch the blessing that will follow - it will be beyond anything we have ever experienced.

The Spirit of God is saying to those that obey (Hag 2:6-7 ); that your prayers will shake the heavens and the earth, the seas and dry land,  (Isaiah: 65:24) before you call I will answer and while you are yet speaking I will hear. Finally, Job 22:28 says, you will decree a thing and it will be established and His light will shine on your ways.

Akinwale Thompson, CFP
Wealth Management Team Lead