Sacrificial Giving

Do you want to know how much God wants you to give? Have you been asking that question? Or have you been ignoring the question in hopes no one will bring it up? Do you know that God already knows your thoughts?

Some of us have heard all types of answers to the questions above. We have heard we are to give everything. We have heard we are to give generously. We have heard we are to give ten percent. We have heard we should give until it hurts.

Here is the truth of the matter, all those answers are correct—if they are given in the proper context. First, we should give all we have to God. That doesn’t mean we are not to use it ourselves. But we are to use all we have to serve God in doing the good works He has planned out for us in advance.

We are to give generously. After all, God has given to us generously. He has blessed us with everything we have, regardless of how much or how little. Think about your job, home, clothing, vehicle, food, drink, furniture, and on and on and on.

We are commanded to give ten percent. The same law God gave to the Israelites still applies today. Jesus did not abolish it, He fulfilled it. In fact, He more than fulfilled it–He gave all of Himself for us. So, giving ten percent of our income is not too much to expect.

We should give until it hurts. Only by giving sacrificially can we begin to understand in the smallest of terms what it means for God to give to us. He sacrificially gave of Himself to save us. He wants us to grow in our faith through sacrificial giving.

I pray we all decide to give sacrificially. I pray we will give generously. I pray each one of us will look to God as our example for giving. Give all you have to God. Give generously. Give ten percent. Give until it hurts. Give sacrificially.

Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Faith Building Through Tithing

Have you ever wondered why churches collect money—contributions or donations? Do you think it is simply to fill their bank accounts? Have you ever thought it was a command? Do you know it is more about obedience than it is about paying the bills?

We have likely heard, if not said or thought ourselves, that churches just collect money so they can pay their bills. We may remember they contribute to ministries. We may think pastors who talk about the need to contribute are money mongers.

There may be cases where those thoughts are true. If you find the church you attend is collecting for the reasons given above, you might want to consider finding another church. Sure, there are bills to be paid, but those should never be the reason for contributing. If that is a true statement, then why should we give?

Notice in today’s passage it is a requirement of the law. In other words, God commanded us to give. Now I know some of you will immediately point to the fact the Hebrew writer is referencing Levitical law. Your next argument will be that we no longer live under Levitical law. And you would be correct to some small degree. For example, we no longer need to sacrifice animals for the forgiveness of our sins—Jesus did that once for all.

However, to dismiss the Levitical law out of hand would be to dismiss the ten commandments, which I don’t believe any of us intend to dismiss. In fact, most of the Levitical law very much applies to us today, including the requirement to tithe. Is it because God needs our help to accomplish His works? No! Then, what is it about?

Our tithing is about obedience, trust, and faith. God commanded it and we are to obey. As we trust God and obey, we experience Him at work in our lives. As we experience Him, our faith increases. Therefore, tithing is for our good, not because the church needs to pay bills nor that God needs our help. After all, He is omnipotent—all powerful—and can do anything.

I pray we all consider our need to obey God. I pray we obey and experience Him at work in our lives. I pray our faith is increased as we experience God at work. Obey God’s commands. Trust God to provide. Trust God knows what is best for you. Increase your faith through experience.

Hebrews 7:5-10 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

High Expectations

Do you strive to meet the expectations of others? Do you have your own expectations of others? Are your expectations low or high? Is meeting expectations important to you? Are you meeting God’s expectations?

We all have our own expectations. We have expectations of ourselves and for others. After all, there are some people who we don’t care to be around. The simple reason is they don’t meet our expectations for behavior or achievement or perhaps looks.

Expectations drive what we do and how we behave. Code of conduct rules in our workplaces guide our behavior while on the job. Job descriptions and expectations are how we are measured for job performance and affect our possibilities of a pay raise.

God has expectations, too. He expectations our very best. Our best behavior and how we treat others. Our best effort in carrying out the work He has laid before us. Our best efforts to trust Him, growing our faith. He also expects us to give back to Him.

We see in today’s passage Jesus is chastising the Jewish leaders for being diligent in paying ten percent to the temple, but they were not acting as God wanted them to. In other words, they were attempting to pay their way into God’s favor. It doesn’t work that way.

By and large, I have observed the opposite in today’s culture. We attempt to justify ourselves by telling ourselves we are good people and working at various tasks in the church, but we won’t give God the ten percent He desires.

Jesus, as our perfect example, has set the bar high. We are to strive to meet all the expectations. Now, Jesus came to be our perfect sacrifice, to cover our sins. But that does not mean we are to give up trying to meet the high expectations God has for us.

I pray we all strive to meet God’s expectations. I pray we study His word to understand His expectations. I pray each one of us will spend time in prayer asking God to guide us and inspire us to be the person He wants us to be. Strive to meet God’s expectations. Know what His expectations are. Don’t give up. Make continual progress. Seek God’s guidance. Trust Him.

Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”

Tithing

What are your beliefs about tithing? Do you believe they are required by God? Or do you believe it is simply a money-making scheme for churches? Do you really want to know the answer? Or are you satisfied to go on believing what you believe?

Tithing can be a very divisive issue. Some believe it is antiquated and no longer a requirement. Others believe tithing is required by God. Still others believe it is a good thing to commit to, but it is not required. What does the Bible say about it?

As we see in today’s passage, God desires us to tithe. He instructed the Israelites to tithe for a reason. It was not because He needed it to carry out His plan, but to provide for the needs of others. Initially, it was to provide for the Levites since they were given an inheritance of the land of Israel and to remove sin. You see, the Levites were to tend to the duties of the temple and perform worship activities. With no land nor a paying job, the tithes were the means by which they lived.

The Israelites were told to bring a tenth of all the grain they grew and the animals they raised. In fact, if they wanted to redeem or take back their tithe, they were to add twenty percent to it (Leviticus 27:29-33). In other words, pay it back plus twenty percent when they were able to do so.

That was the Old Testament. What does Jesus say about it? He says He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In fact, He goes on to say not the smallest part of it will disappear (Matthew 5:17-19). Some argue that since He fulfilled the law, it no longer applies. That would be arguing that murdering and thieving is now no longer a sin.

Why did Jesus need to fulfill the law? First, He came to be the perfect sacrifice and needed to fulfill the law to be perfect. Second, He fulfilled the law to be a perfect example for us. True, because of His sacrifice we no longer need to sacrifice animals to remove our sin. But that doesn’t negate the rest of the law.

Ultimately, it comes down to being obedient to God. As we see in today’s passage, as we are obedient, God blesses us richly. Make no mistake, this is not buying God’s favor. Tithing is one way in which we are to be obedient. We can list many other ways we are to be obedient as well.

I pray we all commit to being obedient to God. I pray we choose to tithe out of obedience. I pray each one of us will trust God to bless us richly as we are obedient to His desires. Commit to obedience. Commit to tithing. Trust God to provide. Trust God to bless you. He won’t disappoint.

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Give Back To God

Are you frustrated with all the demands made on your finances? Do you wonder why so much of your paycheck disappears so quickly? Do you make every attempt possible to keep as much of it as you can?

We all have several different deductions coming out of our paychecks. There are federal taxes, state taxes, insurance, and social security taxes at a minimum. We may have other deductions such as investments or stock purchases. We sometimes wonder why we work at all.

We often complain about having to pay taxes. Most of us have probably heard the statement that we work for the first four months or so of the year for free and the rest of the year for ourselves. Obviously, we don’t work for free. But it is a way to quantify the amount of taxes we pay from each paycheck. We hear of tax cuts, and we don’t see a quantifiable difference. We still pay out roughly thirty-three percent of our earnings to taxes.

What does God say about paying taxes? We see in today’s passage that Jesus very clearly says to pay them. The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus, to get Him to say something against the Roman government so they could have Him arrested. He doesn’t fall into their trap.

Many who read this passage may admit they should pay taxes, but they will question what is God’s. It is simple and yet not so simple. It is certainly a question most of us don’t really want to know the answer deep down in our heart. In fact, I would suggest many of us prefer to be ignorant of or are afraid of the answer. God wants all of us and all that we have. At the same time, He provides us with all we need. One way in which He provides is through our salaries.

Our next question is, “How much of my salary does God want back?” The first thing many will point to is that Jesus didn’t set a specific amount or percentage. However, the Jews were told to give back in various Scriptures the firstfruits, the first born of all their animals, and one-tenth of all they had. The next argument is that those commands are in the Old Testament. Yet, Jesus did not abolish the Old Testament, but fulfilled it.

Here is the hard question for us to wrestle with, if we are paying thirty-three percent of our income to taxes, why are we not giving God the ten percent He desires? I know the answer most will reply with, “I have to pay my bills and feed my family.” Folks let’s call a spade a spade. That is a lack of trust that God will provide.

I pray we all determine to give God what is God’s. I pray we decide to contribute to the building of His kingdom. I pray each one of us will commit to reworking our budgets to contribute to our local churches. Give to God. Trust God to provide. Put God first. You cannot out give God.

Mark 12:17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

Forfeiting All

What are you willing to give up? Would you give up your job? Would you give up your house? Would you give up your car? Would you give up all you own? What if giving it all up was required to spend eternity for God?

Most of the world is not looking to give up anything, rather they are pursuing acquiring as much as they can. It is the rat race we all run in unless we step off the track. We have come to believe the pursuit of happiness means to pursue more possessions.

For some of us, the bad news is we must give up everything to be a true follower of Jesus. The good news is it doesn’t quite mean what we think it does. Though Jesus tells the rich young man in today’s passage to go sell all he has, I’m sure Jesus did not intend all of us to do the same. After all, it would not be beneficial to have millions of homeless in the world. On the other hand, I believe He did truly mean we cannot allow our possessions to possess us.

How does that look in our lives? It means we are content with what God blesses us. It doesn’t mean can’t pursue a better job, but we don’t do so just so we can buy more things. Our reason for improving our position in life must be to serve others as God is leading us more than pleasing ourselves.

Being content with God’s blessings is not giving up nor being a doormat. We can be content and continue to pursue a higher level of success. In fact, we should pursue success as we follow God’s plan for our lives. But we must ensure our attitude and use of that success is to fulfill God’s plan.

God expects us to be grateful and show our gratefulness by sharing and contributing to His work. He blesses us so that we can bless others. We may bless others by providing for their physical needs. We also need to bless others by telling them about Jesus. If we won’t tell them ourselves, we need to equip those who will, providing all they need to do so.

I pray we all stop allowing our possessions to possess us. I pray we pursue success to fulfill God’s plan. I pray each one of us will contribute to blessing others. Pursue God’s plan for you. Be successful to bless others. Be content with God’s blessings. Contribute to the spreading of the Gospel.

Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Good Gifts

Do you doubt you will ever receive good gifts? Does it seem as though it has been a long time since you received one? Have you honestly sought out good gifts from God? Have you seen the gifts He has given you?

We often look for gifts, even if we don’t admit it. For many, receiving a gift equates to a sign they are loved. Also, for many, they believe by giving a gift they are expressing love. Gift giving has become a lucrative business.

Our culture has become one of going over the top. We continually attempt to outdo one another. As the old saying goes, we are trying to keep up with the Jones’s. We give more expensive gifts and expect more expensive gifts. And, unfortunately, we equate more expensive gifts to deeper love.

God shows His love for us by blessing us with all we need. He often blesses us with far more than we need. Yet, His love isn’t about giving us things, but giving us Himself. Have you ever thought about giving in the same way God gives? It would mean giving yourself to others.

How would giving ourselves look? It means doing for one another. It means taking on chores for someone else. Now, it isn’t about doing what you are told, but doing what you see needs to be done before you are told. Those are precious gifts. Do you remember needing to get something done, yet when you went to do it, you find it has already been done? Wasn’t that a wonderful gift? It demonstrates someone saw the need and satisfied it without you asking. It showed they cared. God has done this for us by sending His Son to be our perfect sacrifice.

Jesus tells us in today’s passage that God will give us gifts far better than any gift we can give one another. God has given us the greatest gift of all, and yet He continues to give us gifts. His gifts are those that we need and given at the moment we need them.

I pray we all see the wonderful gifts God gives us. I pray we look to give meaningful gifts to one another. I pray each one of us truly appreciates the greatest gift that God has given us. Give heartfelt gifts. Give back to God. See His wonderful gift. Trust God to continue to bless you.

Matthew 7:9-11 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

God Is With You

Would you like to always have someone with you? Do you want someone to guide you? Do you want someone who will provide for you? Do you want someone who will protect you? Are you looking in the right direction?

We all want guidance from time-to-time. We all need someone who will have our back on occasion. We all need someone who will provide for us when we are children and sometimes during our adult life. All of these are worldly needs.

We also need all these things in our spiritual life. We need them each and every day. We don’t often look for them and especially won’t look to the right person to provide them. Yet, He is always there, waiting for us to look to Him.

God provides us with all we need to carry out His will for our lives. It is when we get off the path He has laid out for us that we find ourselves wanting. God desires to provide for, protect, and guide us through this life. He wants us to choose Him over the world.

We know Satan is pulling at us. He is tempting us with shiny objects. But when we hold on to Jesus and turn our backs on Satan, Jesus will always be there to give us what we need. When we are fearful, Jesus will give us courage. When we are anxious, Jesus will give us calm. When we are angry, Jesus will give us peace.

As David wrote in Psalm 23, we can take comfort in knowing God is always with us. We can look forward to blessings being showered down on us. We can be confident we will spend eternity in the house of the Lord forever.

I pray we all pursue the path God has laid out for us. I pray we look forward to blessings from God. I pray each one of us will find comfort and confidence in knowing we will spend eternity with God. Follow God’s path for you. Trust He is always with you. Lean on Him for guidance. Be confident in God’s promise that you will live with Him forever.

Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Equipped for God’s Work

Are you lacking what you need to carry out your mission? Have you turned to the One who will give you all you need to accomplish the mission He set before you? Have you approached Him to confirm you are carrying out His will?

We often search to discover God’s will for us. Many times, we simply decide to pursue what we like to do as good works rather than seeking the good works God wants us to do. We stumble around unsure of what God truly wants us to do.

When we are unsure what God wants us to do and we attempt something, God gives us clear signs. If we feel at peace, we are following His will. If we feel anxiety, a lack of energy, or it’s a continual struggle, it is not God’s will. The most obvious difference is peace versus anxiety. We will find peace when our decision is in concert with God’s will. There will be a calm within us. We may still feel inadequate for the task, but we have a confidence it is what God wants us to pursue and He will provide.

God will provide us with all we need to accomplish His will. When we experience a lack for a good work we are doing, we can believe God has not set that good work before us. It makes it no less a good work. It just isn’t a good work God desires us to do. He has a different good work in mind for us. We are to go about seeking the good works He has equipped us to do.

As we pursue God’s will, we must see how He has equipped us, both individually and corporately, to determine the good works He wants us to carry out. This can be hard at times. It may mean giving up pet projects. Yet we will see blessings from God beyond our expectations when we go about carrying out His will.

I pray we all seek the good works God desires for us. I pray we set aside our pet projects to carry out God’s will. I pray each one of us will pray and seek the peace of God, having confidence He will provide. Seek God’s will. Seek good works He desires for you. Seek the peace of God. Be confident God will provide. Know that God is always with you.

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Receive Your Requests

What is it you are looking for? What is it you desire? What do you long for and perhaps have been working several years to acquire? How have you gone about it? Are you going it alone or have you asked for help?

We all desire something. There is something at the top of a list of things we want that far exceeds all others. Perhaps we know exactly what it is. Perhaps we haven’t identified it consciously yet.

Some may read the first part of today’s passage and interpret it mean we can ask for anything and God will grant it. That viewpoint makes God out to be a genie that merely granting wishes. Yet, that isn’t what the passage says. Notice the reason why God gives us what we ask—we keep His commands.

Continue reading the passage and we see His commands—believe in Jesus and love one another as He commanded. Those last three words are often forgotten. To love as He commanded means to love unconditionally, just as He loves us. It also includes loving everyone. That means the person at work who is undermining you. It means the family member who consistently offends you. It means the person in office you voted against.

But John doesn’t stop there, he goes on to say that keeping His commands brings God into our lives. We know that He lives in us by the Spirit of God who lives in us. In other words, as we commit to do our best to follow His commands, His Spirit lets us know He is there and guides us.

As we listen to the Holy Spirit guiding us, we ask for what God desires. When we ask for what He desires, He gives us what we ask for. See how this all circles around? When we follow God’s guidance our minds are renewed or changed to be in concert with Him, we follow His commands, we ask for God’s will to be done, and He grants it.

I pray we all follow Jesus’ commands. I pray we listen for the Holy Spirit who lives in us. I pray each one of us will have our minds renewed and ask according to God’s will. Be confident in God. Obey His commands. Believe in Jesus. Love one another. Know the Spirit lives in you. Ask according to God’s will.

1 John 3:21-24 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.