February 3, 2020 – Click here to listen
There is an old adage that we should give until it hurts. I say that is just so much poppycock. God loves a cheerful giver and if it hurts you to give you are better off not giving. When God’s tabernacle was being built to house the Ark of the Covenant a list of needed materials was sent to the people. The Bible describes them as coming forth in great numbers and soon they had so much that Moses had to ask them to quit coming. It describes them coming with great joy to give away their silver and gold.
Can you imagine that happening today? This is not to say that certain individuals don’t cheerfully give and keep giving; it is to say that the masses don’t always respond to giving in a cheerful way. Considering all that God has done for us it is discouraging to know that only 5% tithe, and 80% of Americans only give 2% of their income.
I suppose the Jewish people were extremely grateful that God freed them of their bondage. Now Jesus has set the entire world free of its bondage to sin and sacrificed his life so we can avoid the Great White Throne and God’s Judgment and punishment for our sins. It seems that our gratitude would jubilantly flow from us and we would flood His churches giving more that is needed like the Jews and the tabernacle.
What Happened?
I believe that it boils down to God is not the focal point in many people’s lives. It seems that we believe that what we have accumulated is ours but think about it. Everything belongs to God and we will take none of it with us when we pass into eternal life.
Remember the best things in life are not things. Love, laugh, and live, be generous, be cheerful, and give God your best. He gave us His best by sending His Son to die on a cross for our sins in order that we might live, and He has promised to bless those who love and worship Him forever and ever and He will do it in this life and the next . . . Makes me cheerful just thinking about it.
2 Cor. 9:7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work . . .