March 22, 2017

"AND" by Gary Rose


Sometimes, its an idea, a suggestion, a random thought or even a dream (like in the picture) that ultimately leads you to do something about it. We make a definition, plan and ultimately take action. Very logical! However, not everyone operates like this. People often think about something that needs to be done and just do it- without thinking about steps or writing things down. They make the decision to do what appears to be the next step and just go-from-there. I have heard a thousand sermons about how to become a Christian and many of them boil down to a series of steps to be accomplished, you know- 1. Believe  2. Repent 3.Confess 4. Be baptized. Likewise, I have also heard untold numbers of very emotional sermons about Jesus and what happened to him that we might have eternal life!

Condense this and we are left with: 1. The Plan  2. The Man

Consider the two following passages of Scripture....


Ephesians, Chapter 3 (World English Bible)
1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,  2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you,  3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,  4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,  5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,  6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,  7 of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.  8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,  9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ,  10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,  11 according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Emp. added, vs. 11, GDR)
And
Philippians, Chapter 2 (World English Bible)
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,  6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,  7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. (Emp. added, vss. 7 &8 GDR) 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,  10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,  11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
God's plan for us (most of who would be labeled- Gentile) is eternal. It was also devised with total knowledge, with perfect motives and complete perfection. Why? Because those things reflect the nature of the almighty!!  Who among mere mortals could say that about our plans?

Bottom line here 
It is God's plan AND God's man considered TOGETHER that make our hope of heaven the wonder that it is!!! Do yourself a favor and just think about that for a little while in your "quiet time" today! I think you will feel blessed, I do!!!!

Bible Reading March 22 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading  March 22 (World English Bible)
Mar. 22
Exodus 38 – 40
Exo 38:1 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its breadth was five cubits, and its height was three cubits.
Exo 38:2 He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with brass.
Exo 38:3 He made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of brass.
Exo 38:4 He made for the altar a grating of a network of brass, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
Exo 38:5 He cast four rings for the four ends of brass grating, to be places for the poles.
Exo 38:6 He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with brass.
Exo 38:7 He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
Exo 38:8 He made the basin of brass, and its base of brass, out of the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Exo 38:9 He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
Exo 38:10 their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.
Exo 38:11 For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
Exo 38:12 For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
Exo 38:13 For the east side eastward fifty cubits.
Exo 38:14 The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
Exo 38:15 and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exo 38:16 All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.
Exo 38:17 The sockets for the pillars were of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals, of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.
Exo 38:18 The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, like to the hangings of the court.
Exo 38:19 Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.
Exo 38:20 All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of brass.
Exo 38:21 This is the amount of material used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
Exo 38:22 Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 38:23 With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen.
Exo 38:24 All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents, and seven hundred thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
Exo 38:25 The silver of those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents, and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
Exo 38:26 a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those who were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty men.
Exo 38:27 The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
Exo 38:28 Of the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.
Exo 38:29 The brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand four hundred shekels.
Exo 38:30 With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the vessels of the altar,
Exo 38:31 the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins around the court.
Exo 39:1 Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:3 They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exo 39:4 They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. At the two ends it was joined together.
Exo 39:5 The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.
Exo 39:7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:8 He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:9 It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its breadth a span, being double.
Exo 39:10 They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;
Exo 39:11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
Exo 39:12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
Exo 39:13 and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.
Exo 39:14 The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes.
Exo 39:15 They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
Exo 39:16 They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:17 They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front.
Exo 39:19 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward.
Exo 39:20 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Exo 39:21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
Exo 39:23 The opening of the robe in its midst was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.
Exo 39:24 They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
Exo 39:25 They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates;
Exo 39:26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:27 They made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
Exo 39:28 and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
Exo 39:29 and the sash of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it a writing, like the engravings of a signet: "HOLY TO YAHWEH."
Exo 39:31 They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses; so they did.
Exo 39:33 They brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
Exo 39:34 the covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
Exo 39:35 the ark of the testimony with its poles, the mercy seat,
Exo 39:36 the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
Exo 39:37 the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
Exo 39:38 the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,
Exo 39:39 the bronze altar, its grating of brass, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
Exo 39:40 the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting,
Exo 39:41 the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
Exo 39:42 According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
Exo 39:43 Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as Yahweh had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Exo 40:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Exo 40:2 "On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
Exo 40:3 You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
Exo 40:4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lampstand, and light its lamps.
Exo 40:5 You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
Exo 40:6 You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
Exo 40:7 You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.
Exo 40:8 You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.
Exo 40:9 You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture: and it will be holy.
Exo 40:10 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar will be most holy.
Exo 40:11 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.
Exo 40:12 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.
Exo 40:13 You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office.
Exo 40:14 You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them.
Exo 40:15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest's office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."
Exo 40:16 Moses did so. According to all that Yahweh commanded him, so he did.
Exo 40:17 It happened in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.
Exo 40:18 Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
Exo 40:19 He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:20 He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
Exo 40:21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:22 He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil.
Exo 40:23 He set the bread in order on it before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:24 He put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
Exo 40:25 He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:26 He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil;
Exo 40:27 and he burnt incense of sweet spices on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:28 He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
Exo 40:29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:30 He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
Exo 40:31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there.
Exo 40:32 When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:33 He raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
Exo 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:35 Moses wasn't able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
Exo 40:37 but if the cloud wasn't taken up, then they didn't travel until the day that it was taken up.
Exo 40:38 For the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Mar. 21, 22
Mark 13
Mar 13:1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!"
Mar 13:2 Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down."
Mar 13:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
Mar 13:4 "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?"
Mar 13:5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.
Mar 13:6 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and will lead many astray.
Mar 13:7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.
Mar 13:8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
Mar 13:9 But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.
Mar 13:10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.
Mar 13:11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mar 13:12 "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.
Mar 13:14 But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,
Mar 13:15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
Mar 13:16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
Mar 13:17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!
Mar 13:18 Pray that your flight won't be in the winter.
Mar 13:19 For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.
Mar 13:20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.
Mar 13:21 Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it.
Mar 13:22 For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
Mar 13:23 But you watch. "Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
Mar 13:24 But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,
Mar 13:25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
Mar 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Mar 13:27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
Mar 13:28 "Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near;
Mar 13:29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.
Mar 13:30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Mar 13:32 But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mar 13:33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is.
Mar 13:34 "It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
Mar 13:35 Watch therefore, for you don't know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;
Mar 13:36 lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping.
Mar 13:37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch."

God loves a cheerful giver by Roy Davison


http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/give.html

God loves a cheerful giver
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Revised Standard Version has "not reluctantly or under compulsion."

In the church of Christ each one is to give as he purposes in his own heart and there is to be no compulsion.

I once attended a Pentecostal tent meeting in Canada where buckets were passed around several times to collect money. For a half an hour the preacher pled with the people to give more and more. He drove a Cadillac.

I once visited a mass in West Flanders where the priest went up and down each row of chairs, holding out the collection basket and looking each person straight in the eye. When he came to me, I said: "No, thank you."

Worldly churches often use unscriptural methods of obtaining money. When I was a boy there was a building near our home that we called 'The Bingo Church'. The only sign was a large billboard with the words: 'Bingo Every Thursday Night!' Some denominations sell lottery tickets, have rummage sales and use all kinds of gimmicks to raise money.

Some misuse religion for material gain. Paul warned Timothy about such people, "men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself" (1 Timothy 6:5).

Giving is an important aspect of being a Christian, and an opportunity to give is provided on the Lord's day (1 Corinthians 16:2). But in the church of Christ we may not pressurize people to give or use worldly devices to obtain money. Christians give as they have purposed in their own heart and as the Lord has prospered them.

Church leaders have no right to tell people how much to give or to request pledges. How much someone gives is between him and God. Nor should we ask for funds from non-Christians. We should make it clear that visitors are not expected to contribute.

Paul wrote to Philemon: "But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary" (Philemon 14).

God wants us to give willingly out of love. When the tabernacle was built, "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering' " (Exodus 25:1,2).


We give cheerfully because God has given so much to us.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Jesus "gave Himself for our sins" (Galatians 1:4). "Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us" (Ephesians 5:2). God is a giver and He wants us to be like Him.

God wants us to give liberally.

When Paul explains how each member of the body is to function, he says "he who gives, with liberality" (Romans 12:8).

"He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor" (Proverbs 22:9).

We are to be generous even to our enemies: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you" (Proverbs 25:21,22).

God wants us to give ourselves to Him.

Even though they were poor, the churches of Macedonia gave liberally because they had first given themselves to God: "Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God" (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

God wants us to give according to our ability.

Jesus told His followers, "give alms of such things as you have" (Luke 11:41).

God never asks us to give more than we can. "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Him and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood' " (Mark 12:41-44).

We are not really giving if we just give what is left over. Our giving should be planned. We are to give as we have purposed in our heart.

The story is told of a little girl who was given two euro, one to buy candy and one to put in the collection plate. As she skipped along the street she dropped one of the coins and it rolled into the storm drain. As she peered through the grate she said: "Whoops! There went the Lord's euro!"

We are to share with others.

When the people asked John the Baptist, "What shall we do then?" he replied, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise" (Luke 3:10,11).

"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. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

God will bless us if we are generous.

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). If we use a teaspoon to measure out our giving, God will use a teaspoon to measure out our blessings. If we use a dump-truck to give, God will use a dump-truck to bless us spiritually.

Paul explained to the Corinthians that God would provide for their needs if they were generous to others: "But this I say: 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, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: 'He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness remains forever.' Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God" (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

He explains that their liberal sharing brings glory to God: "For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men" (2 Corinthians 9:12,13). The churches of Galatia were told: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

God wants us to work so we can give.

Paul had set an example in this for the Christians at Ephesus: "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " (Acts 20:34,35).

In his letter to this same church, he wrote: "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need" (Ephesians 4:28).

God wants us to lay up treasure in heaven.

Jesus said: "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:33,34).

God wants us to give personally and through the church.

Our good deeds are to be done discreetly. Jesus said: "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (Matthew 6:3,4).

Christians are instructed to give on the first day of the week as they have been prospered. Paul told the Christians at Corinth: "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:1,2).

Gifts can also be given at other times to meet special needs. We read about the church at Jerusalem: "Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need" (Acts 4:34,35).

How are we to give?

"Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).

No compulsion is to be used in the church of Christ.

God wants us to give willingly through love. We give cheerfully because God has given us so much.

God wants us to give liberally, according to our ability, but first of all He wants us to give ourselves to Him.

God will bless us if we share what we have with others.

God wants us to work so we can give and lay up treasure in heaven. We give both personally and through the church.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.
Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)