Today you should read: Ezekiel 45
The Lord’s Part…
And when you divide by lot the land for inheritance, you shall offer an allotment to the Lord, a holy portion of the land… v. 1
Everything we have or will ever have belongs to God and our use of it, is a gift from Him. Psalm 24:1 tells us…The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains…
This includes our time, our talent, and our treasure. In the case of today’s reading – it includes a portion of the land allotment given to the Children of Israel by the Lord. God expects us to give to Him freely. To honor him by giving to Him faithfully.
Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
How do we do this?
Financially
In the Old Testament days of law, God commanded His people to give Him a tithe – 10% of everything He provides for us.
‘Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30
God expects us to give Him His part of our income. Giving to the Lord allows God to fully bless us.
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until overflows. Malachi 3:8-10
The New Testament principle is to give to God as He has prospered us.
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper… 1 Corinthians 16:2a
Through Serving
Not only our money belongs to the Lord – our time does too. We honor the Lord when we give Him our time to spend in His Word, share Him with others, and serve Him by serving others.
It’s very easy for us to focus on the here and now – what we have and what we want. God reminds us to keep an eternal perspective.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
…and to give our time, our talent, and treasure to Him freely from a grateful heart.
Now, this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
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