God Is Our Source

I can honestly say that 2008 was the worst year for the economy that I can recall in my generation. Many people likely agree with me that we faced one of the most significant financial hardships in the last two decades.

We witnessed this decline in the news and in our communities: high gasoline and food prices, a rapidly declining housing market, and the closure of many small and medium-sized businesses. Even large organizations like Lehman Brothers were on the verge of bankruptcy. Thousands of people lost their jobs, and many lost their homes.

However, despite these financial challenges we faced then and continue to face today, God reassures His people in Psalm 111:5 that He will provide for those who fear Him and will always remember His covenant with His children. Therefore, we have no reason to fear; He will keep His promise to take care of us even in tough times.

As human beings, it is natural to feel fear or panic when we are laid off from our jobs or face foreclosure on our homes. However, we must remember the word of God during these challenging times. In Psalm 50:15, He says that we should call upon Him in the day of trouble, and He will deliver us. His ways are not the world’s ways; regardless of what is happening around us, we need not be afraid. He is our Source, the giver of life and all good things. He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider, and as stated in Psalm 23:1, He promises that we will not want for anything.

As believers, we know that God is our true Source; He is the one who provides for us financially. Our jobs are not our only source of income, and when we experience layoffs or firings, we refuse to feel hopeless or fearful. Our God is limitless and can provide for us through unexpected means. I have witnessed this firsthand; He has delivered me from financial distress multiple times this year alone.

There were times when I faced uncertainty about how I would pay my bills after being unemployed for about three months. Yet, God, in His infinite mercy, surprised my family and me by opening up new financial avenues. For example, in July, we prayed earnestly for assistance, and just a few days later, we received an unexpected electronic transfer from the government for money we were owed. On another occasion, a check arrived in the mail—funds I had completely forgotten about that were earning interest in an investment account. It was amazing! Our God is truly incredible; He may not always come when we expect Him to, but He is always right on time, especially when we need Him most.

In Matthew 6:26, the Word of God beautifully reassures us that if our Heavenly Father takes care of the tiny sparrows and the majestic birds of the air, we can have unwavering confidence that He will also provide for our needs. During these challenging times, let us firmly grasp onto the Lord’s promises and trust Him to cater to every aspect of our lives, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Worshiping God through our tithes and offerings is not just an obligation; it’s an act of love and devotion, especially when financial difficulties loom over us. I have experienced firsthand that it wasn’t solely my prayers that stirred the hand of God in my situation but also the faithfulness my husband and I showed in our tithing and our habit of giving to others and the work of God. Even when it felt almost impossible to give, God came through for us in remarkable ways, demonstrating His undeniable presence in our lives.

Therefore, I urge each one of us not to shy away from giving our tithes and offerings. In moments of hardship, it can be tempting to hold back, yet that choice leads us down a troubling path. Withholding our tithes not only contradicts God’s commands, but it also implies a lack of faith in Him as our ultimate Source of sustenance. It reveals our doubt regarding His ability to care for us in our times of need.

Let us joyfully bless and worship the Lord with our tithes and offerings, generously continue to support those in need, and embrace the promise found in Malachi 3:10: "Test Me now in this," declares the Lord of Hosts. "See if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out such blessings that there will not be enough room to receive it." Similarly, in Proverbs 28:27, it is written that "He who gives to the poor will not want." These enduring promises reflect God’s faithfulness to His people, and we must remember that He is not a man that He should lie. In fact, our Almighty God holds His word in higher esteem than His very name. Thus, let us be rest assured in our complete trust in Him, knowing that He will never let us down.