“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the
apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he
owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet” (Acts 4:36-37).
“What or who is the Lord of your life? Is it your
possessions, or Jesus? God is the creator of the universe; if He wants to do
something He doesn't need our money to do it. What He's after is our hearts. If
we truly trust Jesus -- give Him our paychecks -- and let Him decide how to
spend it. What is your next step in giving? Is it to see everything you have as
God's? Is it to begin giving regularly? It is to trust God with the first 10%,
and learn to live on the rest? What is it for you?”
Thoughts for Today:
Too often when we think about giving, we start
with the idea that something must happen for us first before we can consider
helping out someone else: after we get the promotion and raise, after we buy a
larger home, remodel the kitchen, get a new sofa, replace the old car, etc.
There always seems to be a never ending list of things to do or acquire before
the giving begins. This is the exact opposite idea of instruction from the
Bible and how things are to work in God's family.
I am sure you are aware that the tithe
required by the Old Testament would be the equivalent of 10% of your income
(see Leviticus 27, Numbers 18, Deuteronomy
12 and 14). I am also sure that for some of us tithing like that would
seem to border on the impossible. It represents too much of a financial burden.
Take a moment and figure out how much 10% of your income is -- then make a list
of what you would have to give up to tithe appropriately. Now you have honestly
answered the question: Why is it so hard to give? The answer: It requires more
sacrifice or compromise of our lifestyle than we are willing.
How did we get this attitude
about tithing? How did our finances get so tight that we live paycheck to
paycheck? There are lots of answers, but I think it all revolves around one
central theme and that is: We think it all belongs to us. In other words, ‘It's
mine, I earned it and I alone decide how to spend it.’ This is true for the
financial liberal as well as the conservative. The only difference is how it's
spent: either on consumer purchases or investment and retirement accounts. The
bottom line is this -- the liberal and conservative are both in error in God's
sight.
In Matthew 19:16-24, Jesus was approached by a rich young man
who asked what he must do to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus answered, ‘sell all that you have, give it to the poor and follow
me.’ Jesus wasn't asking for 10%, He was asking for everything. You
see, Jesus saw this young man's problem wasn't following the Law, it was
allowing his possessions to possess him. Jesus goes on to say in verse 24, ‘it is easier for a
camel to enter through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God.’
History tells us that in
Jerusalem all commerce would stop at sunset or on the Sabbath because the gates
allowing camels and caravans to enter the city were closed. One gate was left
open for foot traffic to enter the city and that was the ‘Needle Gate’ (which
was actually a gate within the main entrance gate). A camel could fit through
this gate if it was first unpacked (its burden removed), and it crawled through
on it's knees. This is a great picture for me. It tells me that if I am not
careful, I can let my financial burdens (house, car, college tuition, etc) rob
me of experiencing the joy of giving. So how do we free ourselves? We give what
we have to God -- we follow Joseph's (Barnabas') example -- we take what we
have and we put it at the foot of the cross for Jesus to do with it what He
wills.
Those of us living in the
United States are rich by the world's standard, so whether you live in an
apartment or a mansion, drive a 10 year old car or a new top-of-the-line model
-- You are the ‘rich young man’ Jesus was speaking to and about. Ask yourself:
who owns your television, health club membership, Starbucks card, or paycheck?” Mike Brooks
The Pocket Testament League Daily
Devotions (10/ 8/11) www.ptl.org
The
following is taken from 1/8/12 in Our Daily Bread for Personal and Family Devotions:
“Lord, You love the cheerful
giver,
Who with open heart and hand
Blesses freely, as a river
That refreshes all the land. –Murray
How we
give is more important than how much we give.”
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys
and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19-21 NKJV).
“I am the LORD your
God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go” (Is. 48:17b).
jowildflowers@gmail.com jean-oathout.blogspot.com Tomorrow’s post: Daniel,
a Man of Prayer: Prayer Note # 11
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