Category: giving

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Exodus 29 Offerings

God gifts men/women to do the work of the ministry

As believing Christians we take it as a rule to offer our tithes to the Lord to honor Him. We have set apart the first day of the week to do this in our worship time. God established this so that the people would always remember that all they have been given was from God. In the time we are reading in the book of Exodus God gave instructions to the Israelites to do this not just one day a week but as Dr.Durham noted: “thus the day was opened and closed with gifts to Yahweh, from whom all gifts were believed to come.”

This is an interesting viewpoint and rules given for the same reason as the Israelites. Offerings are given and as such are part and parcel of our belief system so that we always have before us a reminder of God’s graciousness to us. 

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10.11.24.Giving From the Heart

God gifts men/women to do the work of the ministry

1 Cor 8 Giving 

We set aside one day of the week for our tithing but there are other times when we give sacrificially to meet the needs of others. Paul had been collecting monies for the Jerusalem church. Many gave out of their hearts, not out of their abundance. In fact, they had little to nothing but gave and gave and gave that they might receive the blessing of being a part of the giving. God has seen and blessed these for their names and places are recorded in heaven. Paul records this: “with abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.” [2 Cor 8:2-4]

Today, as then, we have many needs before us and it is time for us to open our pocketbooks to give sacrificially beyond our weekly tithing. 

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9.23.24. Spiritual Gifts

God gifts men/women to do the work of the ministry

1 Cor 12 The Spirit Gifts

When one believes and accepts Christ as Savior, it is the Holy Spirit that reveals to our hearts that Jesus is Lord. Is He Lord of your life? If so, then the Spirit is yours as well and with that He gives the gifts that are needed to develop the person and the church. “To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.”  [1 Cor 12:7] As you ponder this thought, consider what gift the Spirit has given to you and not for you alone, but for the many believers out there. 

Paul then takes time to teach the Corinthians and us in turn the many gifts that the Spirit shares out of His abundance of wealth. Has He given you wisdom? Know this, that wisdom comes from the throne of God to edify the church’s believers. Has He given you knowledge? If so, what are you doing with it? Paul then lists many more gifts too numerous here to note. Believer, God has saved you and blessed you with a gift perfectly suited for you and the church so that many would come to salvation. 

What are you doing with your gift today? 

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9.19.24 NetBible reading

God loved

1 Cor 9 Keep or Give Away

Eric Liddell was a runner and a participant in the Olympics. He had one rule, never to run on Sunday and because of that he forfeited a medal. Yet, his courage and steady testimony won him both praise and ridicule. Some time after the Olympics, at which he did receive medals, he chose to leave England and serve as a missionary in China. He not only forfeited medals but the comforts of a life in the English countryside and the perks that go with winners. Instead, he gave all that he might save some. That is what Paul chose to do as well. He had a privileged life as a Pharisee but when he met Christ on that road to Damascus, his life was forever changed. God sent Ananias to tell him that he would not only forgo the privileges of a Pharisee but he must suffer. Paul, like Eric Liddell, chose hardship rather than riches and fame. 

Like Eric Liddell, Paul said “I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.” Both did suffer and died, not with earthly riches and glory but with knowing that their lives were destined to win many to Christ and their reward was laid up in heaven. 

What do I give up to win the lost? Do I cling to earthly riches or like these two men, give up what I could keep so many may hear of the truth of the gospel? 

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J-O-Y!

Phil 2 Real Life Joy

Children learn an acronym and recite it: J-O-Y which translates to Jesus first, others second, yourself last. We all need to use that in our witness and our everyday life. Paul wanted his precious Philippians believers to “recite” this in real life scenarios. He wrote to the church: “each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.” [Phil 2:3b] Further, he used the example of Christ who although he had the rights to be King of Kings, he chose instead to be a servant,which he demonstrated by washing the feet of his disciples. As he finished this task he said: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet.” [Jn 13:14]

Paul continued:“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,” [Phil 2:5] He lived by the J-O-Y principle and we are to do the same.

Where do you need to lift another up today through your humble “washing” of another’s feet? It might be fixing a meal for someone, sending a note of encouragement, calling a friend who needs encouraging. Look at your calendar and see what you could do for another.

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True Contentment

1 Timothy 6 We live in a materialistic society. We are bombarded with ads for this and that supposedly because we need it to be contented. But, if you read history and the biographies of rich men, you will find that they were not contented. Rockefeller when asked what would make him contented, he answered, one more dime, one more dollar. Is that you my reader friend? Jesus reminded the people and his disciples that just one thing is not what God wants. He wants us to be contented in what He has given to us. In fact Paul reminds us “Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.”[1 Tim 6:17]

Many a man has acquired wealth only to see it disappear just as it did in the Great Depression. Or how about the wealthy who were on the Titanic and died having no gold or riches to save them?  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and He will provide all we need at the moment. That is true contentment. 

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Epiphany

Prov 1 Today, many worldwide will celebrate Epiphany or Three Kings Day, marking the supposed day that the three wise men from the east came bearing gifts, asking, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we…have come to worship him.” [Matt 2:2]. Upon finding this infant King Jesus, they “bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes” [and presented three precious gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

As we open Proverbs, we begin with three precious gifts God places before us: “wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel” [Prov 1:2] so that we may be “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” [2Ti 2:15] Gleaning these precious gifts begins when we fear or reverence the Lord God Almighty and “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” [Matt 6:33]. The contrast is the fool who despises wisdom and instruction. The caution is given in [Prov 1:8]: “Listen…to the instruction from your father; do not forsake the teaching from your mother.”

Today, which of these three Proverbs gifts do you have to present to him as you worship him?

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Lifestyle Application

Telling about what God has done

1 Cor 9-11 Paul’s counsel applies to us today. Some will always scrutinize our walk and work, but we choose to live by the higher law. Why might we choose this when Jesus proclaimed that those who proclaim the gospel should be paid for that work? Just as Paul chose to live and work as a volunteer, so do those who offer their services as a free ministry such as Bible.org’s all volunteer staff. He was unashamed of the gospel message, for it is God’s power to save. Paul asked how he could charge for this miraculous power that God unleashes when one comes to the Savior. Paul saw himself in the role of a servant and steward so that he could offer the gospel free of charge. Is this how we see ourselves? God has given us a gift, and it is this: we are His servants fitted with the gospel of peace to be proclaimed freely.

Paul is teaching some life principles here that come directly out of Psalm 78. “We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.” As we receive the gospel freely, we are to offer it freely.” 

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“Serving Until the Very End”

John 13 Jesus knew his departure from this world was imminent. Yet note what John recalled: Jesus knew that he was leaving this world BUT he was returning to His Father. When we face that unwelcome companion that will enter our sphere do we have that same confidence? Are we sure that after our last breath we will be in the presence of the Father? We can trust that will happen because Jesus said this is my promise to you: eternal life. [1Jn 2]

Yet before Jesus would leave he had one last teaching to give to his disciples which was how to serve and keep on serving until the very end, and so he stood, took a towel and girded himself. He then began to wash their feet one by one-even to the one who would betray him. Jesus then said: I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you for the slave is not greater than his master nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Today we share in Holy Communion and give thanks to the Messenger who came that we might have life. He came to his own but they did not accept him as the Light of the World. What say you, have you received Him?

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Hospitality

Matt 25 Jesus has been preparing his disciples to take over the “job” of ministry when the time comes for Him to return home to heaven. Matthew, as a Jew, records the words of Jesus about whom they are to reach. He tells them a story that should challenge all of us just as the story of the Good Samaritan should.

Verses 31 to 40 tell us the things God will show us in eternity about how we shared out of our abundance to the least of those. His illustration reveals that the King will begin the separation of those who were faithful and those who had the means but were not. He reveals that when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty and cover the needy with places of rest and clothing, we are doing what He would have done while He was here.

Jesus goes on to explain that even though we have not recognized ourselves as having done these things, God has seen our heart and our motives. He ends this parable by saying: “I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.” [Matt 25:40]

As we live and move in our world God brings the needy to our door but what we will do with those may be in need. God in heaven as the mighty righteous king has seen and recorded each step.

Last Sunday our pastor challenged us to step out of our comfort zone and be hospitable. Am I doing this just as Jesus shared?  

Photo Credit: Vineyard Church https://vcc.church/media/9tbwwdy/being-hospitable

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