November 13, 2012
"You must each decide in
your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to
pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)
"You
must each decide in your heart."
On Sunday each of us will dedicate a portion of our income to the Lord. My challenge
to myself and to you is to determine the % of your income you now give to God and
then to increase that % for 2013. It is that % which each of us will dedicate to the Lord.
Of course your giving will increase ministry to others through CLC but perhaps the
biggest thing it will do is grow you spiritually. Each step you take toward tithing and
beyond is a holy step. Those who grow in giving are those who grow in Christ.
"And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure."
Do your best not to give out of guilt, pressure, or reluctantly. Seek the "want to".
Where the "want to" is, there is the prompting of God. However, it also works the other
way around. The discipline to act against your desire not to give often creates a
breakthrough to the heart of God. Thus it is also true that where disciplined obedience
is practiced, there is the Spirit of God.
On Sunday each of us will dedicate a portion of our income to the Lord. My challenge
to myself and to you is to determine the % of your income you now give to God and
then to increase that % for 2013. It is that % which each of us will dedicate to the Lord.
Of course your giving will increase ministry to others through CLC but perhaps the
biggest thing it will do is grow you spiritually. Each step you take toward tithing and
beyond is a holy step. Those who grow in giving are those who grow in Christ.
"And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure."
Do your best not to give out of guilt, pressure, or reluctantly. Seek the "want to".
Where the "want to" is, there is the prompting of God. However, it also works the other
way around. The discipline to act against your desire not to give often creates a
breakthrough to the heart of God. Thus it is also true that where disciplined obedience
is practiced, there is the Spirit of God.
"For
god loves a person who gives cheerfully."
Personally the best view of giving that I know of is to make sure my giving hurts at
least a little bit. But, after I've done what hurts (and therefore know that actual sacrifice
Personally the best view of giving that I know of is to make sure my giving hurts at
least a little bit. But, after I've done what hurts (and therefore know that actual sacrifice
is involved), then I'm happy. I feel God's Spirit
saying "well done" and I count that as
cheerful!
"Lord, guide me this week as my family and I make a commitment to give that honors You.
Thank you, Lord. Amen"
cheerful!
"Lord, guide me this week as my family and I make a commitment to give that honors You.
Thank you, Lord. Amen"
David said that he would not make an offering to the Lord which cost him nothing and he was called a man after God's own heart. Jesus offering for us cost Him more than I can comprehend. If I can trust that His sacrifice for my salvation is true, than I have to believe that everything else He said is true. He said "Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured unto you again." I tithe+ not because He needs my money but because it allows Him to prove Himself as He promised in Malachi. He has always been faithful in meeting all of my needs and even many of my "wants". It is a joy to give to Him.
ReplyDeleteGiving becomes unloving when we compare our gifts to other's and determine that our's are 'better' than another's.
ReplyDeleteGiving becomes unloving, when we men attempt to 'exact' funding rather than to preach the example of why we "freely, freely give"
Giving becomes unloving, when the very act of it makes us feel pressured and guilty instead of grateful and joyful
Jesus told the Pharisees, "Yes, you give your tithe, but you neglect justice and the love of God"
The love of money can come in many forms: proud to have it and proud not to have it. Proud to give it and proud not to give it.
Until one gives everything they own, there is absolutely NO basis for pride to begin with.
_Have you ever wondered in the parable of the widow who gave her last 2 coins, which was everything she had to live on , why she was used as an example? She was a widow and widows were supposed to be cared for and provide for by the church. Why did she only have 2 coins and why did she live in poverty?
Because though the Pharisees were careful to protect their image by making sure their tithe was kept up, they acutally were "devouring the houses of widows" (Luke 20:46)
They neglected justice and the love of God to make themselves look good.
Giving should be anything but a topic for dissension, but because it has the potential for greed and abuse, it has been reduced to such. And its sad.