GIVING

There’s some talk going around about whether “tithing” is scriptural as it applies to New Testament believers or if that was just under the law. Those of us who grew up in the church were taught that you should give ten percent of your income to the church.

I guess the question would be whether the argument was intended to let someone “off the hook” for giving that ten percent or if it was allowing him or her freedom to give more.

Look at this example of giving in the Gospel of Luke…

¹While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. ²Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.

³“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. ⁴For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4 (NLT)

There is an individual in our town that lives very modestly, drives old cars and is unable to work in the traditional sense. The individual does do a LOT of ministry in our town, helping widows and the elderly.

Every couple of weeks, sometimes more often, we receive a check made out to the SPRING Student Center from this individual. That check is like the widows coins.

It is a LOT of money for them, but they want to give it to God to allow Him to use it in the lives of teenagers in our town.

God looks at the heart of the giver, not the percentage.

⁶But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NKJV)

By the way, did I mention that this particular person that gives so generously to the SPRING is ALWAYS full of JOY…!

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

PRESENCE

What do you think you would act like if you were to be in the presence of God? I don’t know about you, but I’d probably just fall down dead. Of course, my spirit would immediately be in the presence of God so it’s all good!

Would you act differently (if you didn’t fall down dead) or would life just go on? Here’s the account of one man and his reaction to being in the presence of Jesus…

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”

⁸But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

⁹Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:5-10 (NIV)

Zacchaeus’ life was changed by simply being in the presence of Jesus. It may not seem real to you, but imagine yourself giving up half of everything you own; half of your house, half of your car, your bank account, etc. Then, to make up for all the wrong you had done, you pay back the wronged party four times the original injury to them.

Well if you claim Jesus Christ as your Savior, you ARE in His presence, right now because the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the HOLY SPIRIT lives in you! You are in the presence of God as you read this. That realization should result in a changed life, a righteous life, a humble and grateful life.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

FIRST

A survey was taken a few years ago that asked a group of people what the most important things (people, jobs, etc.) in their life were. Quite a few named family as number one. Others named their position at their place of employment. Some even said that a car or truck that they had always wanted was number one.

There are some that believe that all you have to do is be kind and not too selfish and that will get them a ticket to heaven. A young ruler was asking Jesus how he could “get eternal life” and told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments. Here’s Jesus’ reply to him…

So, when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

²³But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Luke 18:22-23 (NKJV)

The man’s response indicated that his wealth and possessions here on this earth were of more importance than being with Jesus in heaven. You might be thinking well obviously possessions shouldn’t be number one, but family should, right?

So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30 (NKJV)

God wants to be Number One in your life, not number two, three or four. If you place Him in the Number One position, He will not disappoint you. He is more than able to meet all of your needs.

As my life-verse says…

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

PRAY

Some things are so important that you cannot stop praying about them until the answer arrives. One of them is that the church (that’s you and me, the Christians!) in your town, in my town and around the world would glorify Jesus Christ in word and deed. That instead of being an exclusive “club” that takes care of “its own”, it (we) would seek to minister to the lost and love all of those that Christ died for on the cross at Calvary; the poor, the needy, the orphan, the widow and each other!

At times, it can seem as if God doesn’t hear our prayer in this regard, but we are promised that He will. We need to keep at it even when it seems like nothing is happening. He tells us that if we ask anything in His name (and according to His will) that He will do it.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ²He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. ³And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

⁴“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

⁶And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

Many things are worth praying about even when it seems like you’ve been praying for a long time. God is faithful and He will hear your prayers.

Don’t get discouraged when it seems like you are not seeing the answer…simply be faithful in what you are called to do…pray. Thank God for His provision in advance and trust Him to accomplish it.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

PRAISE

I think I figured out where the saying “dumber than a rock” came from! Dumb, not being a term of mental aptitude but of the lack of ability to speak. Look at the following verses and see if you can see what I mean…

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Psalms 19:1 (NASB)

Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth!

Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains!

For the LORD has comforted His people

And will have compassion on His afflicted. Isaiah 49:13 (NASB)

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” ⁴⁰“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:38-40 (NIV)

²⁰For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 18:20 (NASB)

Everyday we look around and see beautiful mountains and trees, we eat fruit grown on trees and vegetable grown from seeds in the earth and yet, we are too often silent about praising and thanking our God.

We are without excuse. His eternal nature can be seen in the vastness of the sky and the ocean. A hint of His power can be seen in the force of the wind and the eruption of a volcano. His love and provision can be seen in how he cares even for the birds and the animals.

Take some time today and despite any negative circumstances that may exist in your life, praise Him for your very breath. Praise Him for the beauty with which He has surrounded you. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him!

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD