Glory and Provision in the Glorious Church

(Genesis 31:1 KJV) And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.

The first mention of glory in the Bible is in this passage. Here glory refers to prosperity and financial abundance. The context is that Jacob received abundance with God’s help as a wealth transfer from Laban. Wealth transfer from the world to God’s covenant people is common throughout the Bible. God transferred wealth in the following examples, imparting his favour to them. This was received by covenant promise:

From the King of Egypt to Abraham (Gen. 12:10–13:2).

From the King of the Philistines to Abraham (Gen. 20).

From the Egyptians to children of Israel before the Exodus (Exodus 3).

From the occupants of the Promised Land to Israel (except for the contents of Jericho).

From surrounding nations to Solomon (2 Chr. 9:14).

From the Syrians to Israel (2 Kings 7)

From several wicked nations to Judah (2 Chr. 20).

Of course, when Israel didn’t walk in their covenant, backsliding to idolatry, then the wealth transferred from them to their enemies.

The other aspect of wealth transfer is “giving.” Scripture is full of teaching and exhortation about giving, but it can be summarized into a few categories. Each category has its own type and level of reward:

Tithing. Resulting in open windows of heaven, blessing, the devourer rebuked, and the nation blessed (Mal. 3:8–12).

Giving to the gospel. One hundred fold return (Mark 10: 29–30)

Giving to the poor. Repaid by God (Prov. 19:17)

Sharing/giving to brothers and sisters. You reap what you sow (Eph. 6:8, Luke 6:38, Gal. 6:7)

VISION:

The Glorious church will be the church that sees a huge transfer of wealth away from the kingdom of darkness and into God’s glorious kingdom:

(Proverbs 13:22 KJV) A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

This means that godly entrepreneurs, business people, and “those who know their God,” will be led by the Holy Spirit in financial dealings. Other Christians will experience amazing favour from God to receive gifts, donations, promotions, pay increases, good sales prices, investment ideas, creative successes, etc. As a result, a huge flow of finances will come out from under Satan’s control to God’s kingdom. As it flows from them into the church, it will be distributed into:

1. Local church budget

2. Poverty relief

3. Missions

4. “Lending to many nations and not borrowing.”

5. Purchase of property, etc.

Seeing that God’s first mention of glory in the Bible has to do with finance transferring to Jacob (a righteous man) from Laban (a trickster), let’s accept that this aspect of glory will be part of God’s glorious church.

Today, I encourage you to lift your vision beyond what you need; I further encourage you to see God’s need for the world’s wealth to be under his control. His way of doing this, according to what we have seen in scripture today, is to transfer it from evil—satanically controlled—people, into the hands of those under his control. Through them, he can funnel it into churches and Christian endeavours, which help to expand his kingdom. Your part is to keep operating in submission to God in your gift, call, and assignment in him. Remain open to his guidance and prompts, especially in areas that can yield fruitful increase. And to continue giving as the Holy Spirit and God’s word direct—tithing, giving to the poor and those in need, giving to the gospel, and sowing what you would like to reap:

(Matthew 7:12 NKJV) “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

(Luke 6:38 NKJV) “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

NOTE: The law of “first mention” is a law of hermeneutics or Bible interpretation. The way God first mentions a word, topic, or issue in His word indicates the way He wants us to view it throughout Scripture.