12 Days of Christian Self Examination Day 8 - Give and Share
Giving and sharing come from an appreciation of God's gifts to us.
Giving and sharing are the opposites of greed and fear.
Are you giving to a church of other religious organization because you are afraid of what may happen if you don't give a certain amount of money on a regular basis? Is someone quoting Old Testament Bible verses (especially from the third chapter of Malachi) to pressure you into giving money?
Please understand the Old Testament tithe was not cash or currency. The Old Testament tithe was literally food: meat, grain, wine, spices, and other items needed by the Levites because they did not have and were never assigned (by God) an allotment of land to farm in the Promised Land.
The Levites (priests) were to rely upon God for their physical needs. This is why the Book of Malachi (in the third chapter) mentions "robbing God".
You will not find this mentioned in the New Testament.
Under our new covenant, able individuals are expected to work to support themselves. Even the Apostle Paul earned his own support through tentmaking. Please note the apostle never asks anyone to give him money for his personal expenses. No New Testament apostle ever makes this request.
God never asks us to do anything out of fear if we are his children. Love, not fear, must motivate whatever we do in honor of God. God doesn't need our money. Individuals and organizations need money and God will always supply what's needed to those who do God's work.
Fear, threats, and intimidation are not God's methods of encouraging His beloved ones to share.
Of course churches, mission groups, and ministries need support. If you are being helped or have been helped, please give to and share with those who have helped you or those who are helping others. Send support if you feel led to send support.
But do it the right way: as a cheerful giver.
" God loves a cheerful giver. "
From 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
God wants your gifts to be from the heart for the work of the gospel. If fear or threats of punishment are the basis for your giving, think again.
Remember: God owns everything because God created everything. Your opportunity to give is only a chance to imitate and express the loving-kindness of the heavenly father. That's all it is and all it ever will be for the Christian believer. God is not going to run out of money, so God's work will never go unfunded.
If individuals fear a lack of money, they need only stay close to God, obey, and trust God to provide. God is not in the habit of leaving His children high and dry, ignoring their needs, or refusing to care for them.
Be a cheerful giver!
Giving and sharing are the opposites of greed and fear.
Are you giving to a church of other religious organization because you are afraid of what may happen if you don't give a certain amount of money on a regular basis? Is someone quoting Old Testament Bible verses (especially from the third chapter of Malachi) to pressure you into giving money?
Please understand the Old Testament tithe was not cash or currency. The Old Testament tithe was literally food: meat, grain, wine, spices, and other items needed by the Levites because they did not have and were never assigned (by God) an allotment of land to farm in the Promised Land.
The Levites (priests) were to rely upon God for their physical needs. This is why the Book of Malachi (in the third chapter) mentions "robbing God".
You will not find this mentioned in the New Testament.
Under our new covenant, able individuals are expected to work to support themselves. Even the Apostle Paul earned his own support through tentmaking. Please note the apostle never asks anyone to give him money for his personal expenses. No New Testament apostle ever makes this request.
God never asks us to do anything out of fear if we are his children. Love, not fear, must motivate whatever we do in honor of God. God doesn't need our money. Individuals and organizations need money and God will always supply what's needed to those who do God's work.
Fear, threats, and intimidation are not God's methods of encouraging His beloved ones to share.
Of course churches, mission groups, and ministries need support. If you are being helped or have been helped, please give to and share with those who have helped you or those who are helping others. Send support if you feel led to send support.
But do it the right way: as a cheerful giver.
" God loves a cheerful giver. "
From 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
God wants your gifts to be from the heart for the work of the gospel. If fear or threats of punishment are the basis for your giving, think again.
Remember: God owns everything because God created everything. Your opportunity to give is only a chance to imitate and express the loving-kindness of the heavenly father. That's all it is and all it ever will be for the Christian believer. God is not going to run out of money, so God's work will never go unfunded.
If individuals fear a lack of money, they need only stay close to God, obey, and trust God to provide. God is not in the habit of leaving His children high and dry, ignoring their needs, or refusing to care for them.
Be a cheerful giver!
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