“Our Daily Bread” http://odb.org/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
“Homily Grits Devotional” http://www.homilygrits.com/
2 Corinthians 8:12… For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. (NKJV)
Understanding what God expects us to contribute to the offering plate at church, and the right motive for giving…is essential to be sure God will be pleased with our heart; and our generosity towards His church… For sure, God doesn’t need our money… But I believe God uses what we give to our church with all of our resources (not just the offering), to test us…
Throughout the Bible, God tested His people… God tested Abraham’s faith, by asking him to take his only son Isaac out into the wilderness, and offer him up as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:1-2)…
God tested the Israelites to find out who would be obedient, and who would fail the test…after they fled Egypt via the parting of the Red Sea… Only Caleb and Joshua, out of a whole generation of rebelling Israelites, passed God’s test… The rest wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, until all of the rebels had died off (Deuteronomy 8:1-20)…
God tested His servant Job, by allowing Satan to inflict devastating pain and suffering to Job; as well as a loss of all his possessions and his children…Job 1:13-22… And through it all, Job never lost faith in God… In the end, God rewarded Job with 10 more children, and double his original possessions (Job 42:10)…
God tested David’s heart (Psalm 139:12); and Jeremiah the prophet’s heart (Jeremiah 12:3)…
And in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes about God testing out hearts, in…1 Thessalonians 2:4… But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. (NKJV)
Here is a link I found interesting, titled…“Why Does God Test Us ?”… http://so4j.com/why-does-god-test-us-scriptures-on-testing.php#scriptures_on_testing
In the Old Testament, scripture confirms God’s requirement to tithe 10% of a family’s herd and produce (Leviticus 27:30-32…&…Numbers 18:26)… There were other various tithes (Deuteronomy 12:6-7); and every 3rd year, an additional tithe for the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28)… John MacArthur’s notes say that these tithes totaled approximately 23% annually…
But no where in the New Testament, does the Bible tell us to tithe a fixed % of our pay… Many people tithe 10% of their gross pay… And this could be just right…too much…or not enough to satisfy God… The amount we give should be based upon our financial capability… If we have more money that we need to live comfortably…God expects us to take our excess, and give to those in need (1 John 3:17)…
But God doesn’t expect us to go into debt by tithing 10%, if we just can’t possibly afford to… That being said…I know many people who tithe 10%, when they can’t afford it; and yet God always provides for their needs…
When the Christian gives of their finances…their time…or any other resource that they possess…God sees their heart (1 Samuel 16:7b); and wants to see them give cheerfully… When we give grudgingly, or we give to make ourselves look good to those around us…God will see our motives, and will only honor giving freely from our heart with love…
2 Corinthians 9:7-8… So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all graceabound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)
The bottom line…we just can’t out give God… God wants all of His children to prosper… There is much scripture teaching us that we will reap what we sow (Luke 6:38…Galatians 6:7…2 Corinthians 9:6) As a matter of fact, there is scripture in the Old Testament, where God dares us to test Him with our tithes…
Malachi 3:10… Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (NKJV)
These promised blessings may not be monetary… But any of God’s blessings, if they are poured out onto us in abundance by God’s grace…just has to be a good thing !!
Heavenly Father, Your Word is clear on how best to use our resources of time and money to bring honor and glory to Your name… Help us Lord, to always give to our church and those in need, with a heart that is filled with the love of Christ… I pray that all of us will see the promises You have made…to bless Your children who give with the right heart, as good stewards of all that You have so graciously provided to us… I pray that our lives will be a reflection of Your grace and mercy towards others…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
written by bruce r mills
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