🏠 House on the Rock: Building Your Foundation on Faith and Finances

We’re in our “House on the Rock” series—learning to build life on a solid foundation. And that foundation is Jesus. He’s our salvation, our rock, the one we build on.

Today’s topic? Money. Not because the church wants your cash—this is for everyone, whether you’ve been faithfully tithing for years or you’ve never set foot in a church before. God has something for you today. We’re going straight to the Word—our firm foundation.

⛏ Digging Deep

Ever watched Grand Designs? Kevin McCloud could narrate anything. And we all judge the contestants—"I wouldn’t do that!"—especially when the budget blows up.

One man built his house on an old lookout point by the sea. The foundations weren’t right. They had to dig deep to find bedrock—deep down on the beach. Big machines. Months of work. £150,000 later, they had something solid.

That’s what it’s like with our hearts. Sometimes we have to dig deep—invest time, energy, even money—to align our lives with God’s will.

📜 God’s Challenge in Malachi

Our key text is Malachi 3:8-12:

"Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me... in tithes and offerings. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven..."

Before Jesus, God gave Israel the tithe as a standard—a way to fund ministry, feed the poor, and keep worship central. And here’s the grace: even in calling them out, God offered them a way back.

🎸 The Guitar Hero Story

Years ago, I gamed a lot. I even had to sit an access course because of Halo 3. One day a mate, Scany, had Guitar Hero. I asked to borrow it. He handed me the game—but not the guitar controller.

I went home, plugged it in, and played with a regular controller. Technically, I wasn’t robbed—but I was missing the full experience. That’s what it’s like when we give God part of our obedience but not the whole thing. We’re holding back the joy.

❤️ From Law to Love

In the Old Testament, tithing—giving 10%—was a law. It supported the Levites, funded feasts, and cared for the poor.

But Jesus came and fulfilled the law. Romans 7:6 says, "By dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit."

Now we give—not out of obligation—but out of love and trust.

💡 Jesus on Money

Jesus talked about money a lot—around a quarter of His recorded teaching. Why? Because money follows the heart.

Matthew 6:21: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

And Matthew 6:24 warns, "You cannot serve both God and money." We either let money rule us, or we let God rule our money.

🙌 Giving as Worship

Giving isn’t about ticking a box—it’s worship. It’s saying, “God, everything I have is from You. I trust You with it.”

2 Corinthians 9:7–8 says, "God loves a cheerful giver... and is able to bless you abundantly." We give because we’ve already been blessed, not to bribe God for more.

📏 The Tithe: A Starting Line, Not a Finish Line

The 10% tithe is a biblical principle, but it’s not a cap. Some people flip it—living on 10% and giving 90%! The point isn’t the percentage—it’s putting God in the driver’s seat.

We’re stewards of it all. The other 90% matters too. We manage it in a way that reflects His kingdom.

🕊 Breaking Past Hurts

Maybe you’ve been hurt by past teaching on money. Maybe giving has been twisted into guilt or manipulation. That’s not God’s heart. He wants to bring freedom, healing, and peace to your finances.

🌍 Why We Give

When we give, we fuel God’s work—feeding the hungry, discipling believers, planting churches. It’s a kingdom investment with eternal return.

And time after time, people testify: when they put God first, He provided in miraculous ways.

🏁 Conclusion: Who’s Driving?

When God’s at the centre of our finances, fear loses its grip. Giving becomes a joy, not a duty.

So reflect: Where’s your treasure? Who’s in the driver’s seat?

Trust Him. Test Him. Let Him prove His faithfulness.

God’s got you. He won’t let go.