The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
“Homily Grits Devotional” http://www.homilygrits.com
Luke 21:1-2… And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.
Last Sunday in church, our Elder Sergio preached on Luke chapter 21… He used the first 4 verses about the poor widow and her 2 mites donation to the treasury, to bring out a very important question for all of us who claim to be Christians… Do we give the Lord ALL He deserves…or do we give the Lord what is convenient at the time ??
This opening scripture tells us that Jesus was watching, as the rich gave a donation to the treasury out of their abundance (V4)… Jesus also saw the poor widow give only 2 mites…but this was “all the livelihood that she had” (V4)… The 2 mites were small copper coins worth about 1/8 of a cent in today’s money… But Jesus said this, in…Luke 21:3… So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; (NKJV)
This teaching by Jesus clearly reveals to us that He looks at our heart and our motives, when we give of our material possessions to the church… If we are short on money for the week, do we rob God by paying all of our bills first, put money aside for vacations or activities for our personal enjoyment…and if we have anything left over, we give it to the church ?? Or do we first put aside a tithe (10%) for the church, out of the money that we earn…as they did in the Old Testament…because the Lord is really entitled to the 10 percent tithe of our wages ?? After all…everything that we have has been given to us by God, right ?? (2 Peter 1:2-3)
This teaching by Jesus clearly reveals to us that He looks at our heart and our motives, when we give of our material possessions to the church… If we are short on money for the week, do we rob God by paying all of our bills first, put money aside for vacations or activities for our personal enjoyment…and if we have anything left over, we give it to the church ?? Or do we first put aside a tithe (10%) for the church, out of the money that we earn…as they did in the Old Testament…because the Lord is really entitled to the 10 percent tithe of our wages ?? After all…everything that we have has been given to us by God, right ?? (2 Peter 1:2-3)
I spoke about us robbing God of our tithes, above… We see God mention this, in…Malachi 3:8-9…
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.” (NKJV) Here is the scripture in the Bible, where God tells us to test Him, found in…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 blessings That there will not be room enough to receive it. (NKJV) There is no one that I personally know that tithes 10% of their earnings, that has ever told me that God has broken this promise He made back in the Old Testament… When we give God what is rightfully owed Him, God always provides for His obedient children…Though tithing is not mentioned in the New Testament, the apostle Paul pens this about our giving, in… 2 Corinthians 9:6-7… But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (NKJV )
We see the apostle Paul explain, that if our purposes for giving are made with a pure heart, we will be happy to give back to the Lord just a fraction of what He has given to us… There is no mention of a 10% mandatory requirement to tithe in the New Testament…but I believe if we give what our heart tells us to give…and we are walking with the Lord, we will be doing what God expects of us…
Jesus teaches us that if we are His children, we should never worry about things like food, or shelter, or clothing… God knows that we need these things before we do…and He promises to provide for all of our necessities (Philippians 4:19) if we seek Christ and His righteousness first, in…Matthew 6:31-33… When we live as obedient children before God, having continuous faith and trust in Him as our Provider…He will never fail us… Here is a link to 100 Bible verses titled…”God Provides”… http://www.openbible.info/topics/god_provides
But what does the Bible reveal we should do, if God has blessed us with an overabundance of material wealth ?? The Bible is filled with scripture urging us to share what we have with the poor or needy… A good life in God’s eyes is not about an abundance of possessions, as Jesus teaches, in…Luke 12:15… And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (NKJV)
The writer of Hebrews pens this, in…Hebrews 13:16… But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (NKJV)
The apostle John in his old age, penned this rather direct statement about sharing one’s wealth, in…1 John 3:17… But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (NKJV)
Here are instructions for the wealthy, penned by the apostle Paul, in…1 Timothy 6:17-18… Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, (NKJV)
When we share our abundance of time and/or material wealth with those in need…God promises to continue to bless us abundantly, so that we can continue to do good works for others… 2 Corinthians 9:8… And God is able to makeallgraceabound toward you, that you, alwayshavingallsufficiency in allthings, mayhave an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)
Alas, if God gives us an abundance of wealth, and we fail to share our abundance with those in need, but instead keep it for ourselves…Jesus paints a dreary picture of those whose hearts are filled with greed, and die in their sins, in…Matthew 25:44-46… “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (NKJV)
Jesus was speaking here of sinners who were never graced with salvation, through saving faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ… But the apostle Paul has these words of warning for those who love making money, and desire to be rich without sharing their wealth, in…1 Timothy 6:9-10… But those who desire to be richfall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmfullusts which drownmen in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of allkinds of evil, for whichsome have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with manysorrows. (NKJV)
I am of the belief that those who are Christians in God’s eyes, can never lose their salvation… But if we as Christians become wealthy, and then decide to keep our riches for ourselves, instead of sharing with those in need…this greed can lead to chastising and scourging that God promises, which may not be a pleasant experience… You can read all about God’s promise to chastise the one’s He loves who go astray, in…Hebrews 12:5-11… Here is the link… http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb12%3A5-11&version=NKJV;KJV
Heavenly Father, Your Word is clear on how we as Christians are to be good stewards of the resources You have given to us… Help us Lord, to share out of our abundance with those in need… And Lord, give us this desire to give of our time or our finances with a cheerful heart… I pray for all of us to be good stewards of all that we have, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
Blessings in Christ, bruce r mills
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