Comments Concerning the Collection |
Offering from a Willing Heart | Ready, Willing, and Able | Power in Combining Resources | By the Will of God
Physical and Spiritual | Spend and Be Spent | Daily Choices | A note to our visitors
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In 1 Chronicles 29:3, we read that King David gave an amazing amount for the temple, even from his personal, special supply, “because,” he said, “I have set my affection on the house of my God.” Then the people followed his example and gave generously, as well. Then they “rejoiced because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord.” (v. 9) Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-18:
The churches of Macedonia first “gave themselves to the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 8:5) and this is in keeping with what Paul explained to them later in that letter: “I do not seek yours, but you. (2 Corinthians 12:14 – emphasis added, InkMan) |
The churches of Macedonia, 3 … gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (2 Cor. 8:5)
We need to remember that our giving is “by the will of God.” We give ourselves first to the Lord and then to His people. As needs are identified, we are asked to give. Do we shrink back, or do we beg earnestly for the favor of taking part in this work? Which, do you think, is God's will concerning your giving?
In one of the strongest passages about a person's dual nature – physical and spiritual – the apostle Paul says,
"We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
He reminds us to walk by faith rather than by sight and to always make it our aim to please God, "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10) Notice, a spiritual judgment based on physical behavior.
Focusing on "unseen" things will affect how we look at others: "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh." (v. 16) and how we teach others (vv. 11, 18-20), and I would submit that it affects how we spend our time and even our money.
We have physical blessings which we share with others, for the preaching and teaching of the gospel and for helping needy Christians. We identify the needs, from preacher support to feeding hungry Christians in Zimbabwe , and we give … money. But what we do in this physical act echoes in the heavens. It gives great encouragement to the souls of the people who receive it – they see that we share a common faith and love them in Christ and will not abandon them! – and God notices and judges according to what we have “purposed in [our] hearts.” (2 Cor. 9:7)
My grandmother's eulogy described her, in part, as “frugal with herself, generous with others.” What about us?
Our fellow Christians are worth ALL THAT WE HAVE!
All who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. Acts 2:44-45 (Also Acts 4:34 -35)
The gospel is worth ALL THAT WE HAVE!
Remember the merchant? "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46
The gospel is worth all that we have, so, the spread of that gospel is worth ALL THAT WE HAVE! What will you give to help it spread?
There are men who, like Paul, say, "As much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel…" (Romans 1:15)
and
I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. (2 Corinthians 12:15)
When we support a preacher to buy medicine or put food on his table or buy a computer so he can print tracts to distribute, we have “fellowship in the gospel.” (Philippians 1:5)
As we take up a collection (only expected from the members, not the visitors), we should ask ourselves, “Just how beautiful ARE the feet of those who preach the gospel?” (Romans 10:15)
And know that, when we sell possessions – or, at the very least, avoid obtaining certain possessions, which is what we've come to, in our rich culture – we will be able to think of ourselves “as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” ( 2 Corinthians 6:10)
As we come to this collection, I wonder how it is that we have money to spare, to give today.
Ideas of the world for this offering include the “skip-a-meal” fund-raiser method, which is suggested on “EHow.com” for generating a building fund. Similarly, the Mormon church promotes the (man-made) idea of a “fast offering” which they define as
“A donation given by members to benefit the needy. Funds collected by branches and wards, which are not needed by them, are sent into the general Church fund. The contribution generally consists of money saved by fasting for two consecutive meals. ” – http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/the-commandments/live-the-law-of-tithing#x
I'm not suggesting that these methods are found in the Bible, but I want us to notice how their long-term priorities translate into daily choices. A simple example – that I can support! – comes from a housekeeper who was invited by her co-workers to go shopping. She declined, explaining, “I need my water and my lights and a place to stay.” Her monthly priorities have translated into daily choices.
We have long-term priorities , as did Christians in the first century. They were taught, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside , storing up as he may prosper….” (1 Cor. 16:2) That will involve some daily choices. 2 Cor. 9:6-7 says, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart ….”
In order for us to enjoy bountiful reaping, our giving requires some planning. I'm not telling you how to save your money, but I hope we don't give simply whatever happens to be in our pocket on Sunday after a big spending spree Saturday night. God expects more than left-overs. Our weekly priorities in giving – which include the monthly priorities of “water and lights and a place to stay” for preachers and needy brethren (James 2:15), as well as the longer-term needs for edifying the saints and spreading the gospel – translate into daily choices.
May we choose well, and give as we have purposed in our hearts.
(Visitors, thank you for worshipping with us. We do not expect you to give to this collection. Your presence is contribution enough. If you wish to put something in the plate, we'd be happy to get your visitor card so we can send you a note of appreciation.)
Other ideas:
God tests us weekly. He could take from us, but He asks us to do the giving.
When we give “according to our means,” or "as we have prospered" (1 Cor. 16:2), and we are also to give “as we purpose in our hearts” and “cheerfully.” (2 Cor. 9:7)
May He not have given Himself IN VAIN.
Written by Ink Man
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Quotes are from the English Standard Version or the New King James Version of the Bible.