Dear God!

       I have been faithful in tithing and offerings, but still don't seem to get my harvest. If I had all the money I had spent in tithing, I wouldn't be in debt right now. I am discouraged, confused, and broke.

Dear Broke,

       Many in the body of Christ are feeling this inside, but are too ashamed to say it aloud. The most important thing to always remember is that GOD'S WORD IS TRUE.

       So what am I doing wrong? You ask. Your answer is in Haggai 1:5-7, and Proverbs 18:21.

       Haggai 1:5-7 says, "...consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes." Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider YOUR (emphasis mine) ways!" God is really clear here about us considering OUR ways. Notice that He does not say that we should consider that perhaps His word is wrong, but that we are to consider OUR ways.

       So, we must ask ourselves, what are my ways? Let's begin by taking a look at our words, since they have formed everything that exists. Proverbs 18:21 tells us "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." What words are you speaking over your seed (tithes and offerings)? Are you watering it "continually" with God's word? Or did you sow it and then walk away expecting your harvest to simply show up on your doorstep one day?

       You mean I have to water it CONTINUALLY? Psalm 35:27 says "Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." And Psalm 34:1 tells us to "...bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

       But, that seems like so much work! Let me say this to that. You don't seem to have any trouble complaining about your overdue bills, and how much debt you are in! If those words CONTINUALLY seem to roll right out of our mouth instead of God's word regarding our finances, then we are speaking death to our harvest!

       As we consider our ways, we must consider our words, and be sure that they are CONTINUALLY bringing life to our life, not death to our seed.

Gail Ramsey, an ordained minister, portrayed the role of Susan Moore on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She had other roles on the TV programs Mike Hammer, Generations and California Dreams. Today, Ramsey leads Semeion Ministries, where readers can write her at P.O. Box 77, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43063.