"And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry" (Luke 12:18-19).

Well, well, well, here we have a "self-made man." Look at what he says, "MY soul did all this; I got this big bank account." He's boasting in his own ability.

God's response to that is, "It's yours? Let's see if you're going to leave with this stuff; you came here with nothing and you're going to leave with nothing."

If you have the same attitude and you're saying, "this is my money; I earned this money. I worked hard for my money. It was my brains, it was my hard work, and it was my education that did all this." Then God is saying, "You are a fool to think God's hand had nothing to do with it."

You see, God gave you the money and the ability in the first place. He's the One who gave you the power to get wealth, and He has more expectations of you because you're now blessed with more.

Unfortunately, the more God blesses some people the stingier they get. Don't let that be you. A lot of times the biggest givers in the church are the poorest people. They give a higher percentage of what they have. When they give, they feel it - it hurts.

You see, the rich guy just writes some amount and thinks he can just give God a tip. But understand this, unto whom much is given, much is required. The rich man should feel his giving too, just like the man that is not rich.

Some of you are making more money now then you have made in your whole life. And now you say, "I can't be giving Butler that kind of money." Or, "I can't give all that money to the church." Or you say, "I can't give those preachers all that money."

If you have more, you're supposed to sow more. Whatever God blesses us with, He expects us to give a tenth. Don't take pride in thinking, "well at least I gave such and such." God will not bless that. Why? Because unto whom much is given, much is required. God is holding you accountable for what you give.

When God blesses you with more money, you have to be willing to step up to the next level. If you are diligent in ministering to the Lord with your substance, God will bless you with more and more.

Scripture References: Matthew 6:19-21,33; Colossians 3:1-3

Keith Butler Ministries
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