“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Mat 23:23)
There is a lot of chatter in churches about giving. If we were to be perfectly transparent with each other, it is usually by leaders who want you to give more and churchgoers looking to give less.
Is giving important? Yes it is, and it should not be neglected. But more important is justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the behaviors we should covet and endeavor to have in abundance.
Please give, and give regularly and generously, but never forget the priorities that are the fruit of a life transformed by Jesus: faithfulness, mercy, and justice.
Quick Prayer: Thank You for the pattern and discipline of regular giving. Amen.
Giving comes with a heart that desires to please God. Mercy and the other Love attributes also come with a heart that wants to plesae God. As God changes our heart from stone to flesh we change in how we desire to please God and not man. I can not outgive God nor am I expected too. I am to give with an Loving heart to further Gods plan of salvation not to have others look at me as a generous giver. I belive it says God wants a cheerful giver not one who gives because he is told too. My giving is between God and me. He alone knowes my heart and its desire to please Him.
Is our giving for our soul or for love of God? Is it to buy favor or to please God? God speaking to his people. Spoke to them in the book of Micah concerning giving Useing a prophet Who’s heart was greedy yet he new the Things of God How not to give.————————Mic 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD. Mic 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Mic 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? What God then says to His people meaning to give…. is very similar to This which in in Matt. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Mat 23:23)————————-It is not a long stretch to see the similarity between Micah’s ;Do Justice, Love Mercy, and walk HUMBLY with your God and Mat’s. : Justice mercy and “Faithfulness” –————Our giving Should be to be pleasing To God Yet the Bible states Clearly That :Those Who sow generously Shall Reap Generously.———————————————-Yours in Christ: Wade Trombatore