The Covenant (Part 4)

God told Abraham,  "I am your shield."  He also told Him, “I am thy exceedingly great reward.”  This promise includes both spiritual and material blessings.  Abraham was not only blessed spiritually by his relationship with God and through his ministry to the nations, but he was also blessed materially.  He possessed great wealth, as did his immediate heirs, Isaac and Jacob.

God blessed Abraham materially because He knew that Abraham would use his wealth wisely for the extension of God’s purposes.  He knew that he would honor God with the tithe of his increase in Genesis 14:18-20.

God wants to give you both spiritual and material blessings.  God is the one who gives you the power to get wealth declaring:

Deuteronomy 8:18 "...thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."   

The power to get wealth is part of the Abrahamic covenant. God gives you the power to secure what you need for yourself, your family, and your ministry.  Cast aside  “welfare mentality” and reject all negative thinking regarding your finances.  You have an inheritance!

God blessed Abraham because He knew Abraham would use his resources wisely to extend God’s purposes.  If you will put  the Kingdom of God first in your finances, you will be blessed: 

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

The financial blessings of the  covenant are released when you give liberally of your resources to God:     

Malachi 3:8-12 "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."

When Israel gave their tithes and offerings, they were blessed.  When they did not give, they were cursed.  Do you want to live under a curse or a blessing? Is God your great reward, or is your focus on material possessions?