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Phyllis Qualls Freeman tells us,
"Giving is a private matter between
us and our Lord.
It’s important to
seriously consider our motive for giving."
"Giving is a private matter between
us and our Lord.
It’s important to
seriously consider our motive for giving."
"A lady who was about to pay the bill for her dinner stated, 'It grates on me to pay a waitress a fifteen percent tip when I give God just ten percent.'
I thought about saying that we give God ten percent of our total wage and a waitress only a percentage of the cost of a meal.
The two aren’t really equal.
I thought about saying that we give God ten percent of our total wage and a waitress only a percentage of the cost of a meal.
The two aren’t really equal.
In addition to the customary ten percent, or our tithe, we are encouraged to give additional offerings to the church, so many of us do give at least fifteen per cent.
Just before Moses died, he rehearsed the last forty years and admonished Israel to follow God faithfully.
"Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 16:17
In verse ten, he tells them to bring a gift and rejoice at the “place he (God) will choose as a dwelling for his Name”—I believe we’d call that church.
"Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 16:17
In verse ten, he tells them to bring a gift and rejoice at the “place he (God) will choose as a dwelling for his Name”—I believe we’d call that church.
How do we know what is appropriate to give in church? Do we try to figure out what the church deserves or give what we feel we can afford each week or do we give because we’ve received?
Giving is a private matter between us and our Lord. It’s important to seriously consider our motive for giving.
What if we gave offerings in proportion to our blessings as Moses challenged Israel to do?
Would I then give an offering each time God blessed me with a child?
Would I bring a special gift to the house of God because God gave my husband a good job to pay our bills?
How could I ever give enough in offerings to balance the scale of what God gave me? Of course, that isn’t what we try to do. He offers me salvation and much more.
Would I then give an offering each time God blessed me with a child?
Would I bring a special gift to the house of God because God gave my husband a good job to pay our bills?
How could I ever give enough in offerings to balance the scale of what God gave me? Of course, that isn’t what we try to do. He offers me salvation and much more.
We could never give as much as we’ve been given.
Giving is a heart matter. We can’t decipher matters of the heart with a monetary value.
Giving with a free heart is a progressive grace.
At first we give because we are instructed to do so. Eventually, we grow in our spiritual life and learn to reciprocate or give in return for all we’ve been given.
Giving with a free heart is a progressive grace.
At first we give because we are instructed to do so. Eventually, we grow in our spiritual life and learn to reciprocate or give in return for all we’ve been given.
It isn’t a matter of obligation or responding to a persuasive person’s call to give. It is a matter of loving God.
Love gives. Love shares. Love obeys.
Love gives. Love shares. Love obeys.
If you gave in proportion to your blessings, how much would that be?
Photo courtesy of microsoft.com free image gallery
A freelance writer, Phyllis Qualls Freeman has more than four-hundred published devotionals and human interest stories, including; Secret Place, Upper Room, Knowville News-Sentinel and writes for three publishing houses on assignment.
She teaches classes on emotional healing and speaks at ladies’ meetings and conferences on these issues.
She teaches classes on emotional healing and speaks at ladies’ meetings and conferences on these issues.
Used by permission www.christiandevotions.us
Tomorrow’s
post: Strike the Mark: Prayer Note #81 Dutch Sheets
Today’s
treasure truth #6: If you are “born again”, you are sanctified. 1 Cor. 6:11
Our
thought for today: A major blessing comes when we obey and do something that's difficult.
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