The Call To Give

Daily Reading: Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase.”


Let's face it: It's easy for us to give out of abundance. We always feel like we have some to spare. Additionally, we have often heard of tithing as a command from Scripture, but the truth is regardless of giving your ten percent, we are called to give not just from abundance but from our faith, out of our love of Christ. Numerous passages in the Scriptures talk about giving.

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Here we find instruction to give cheerfully regardless of the amount. This goes hand in hand with the recognition that everything we have comes from God. In Genesis 14:17-20, Abraham acknowledges that God is greatest giver of all. Without God's generosity to us, we would have nothing. So we must give not only with cheerful hearts, but in recognition that what we are giving is not really ours to hold on to.

Numerous passages also remind us that God will provide for us. Matthew 6:31-33, for example, read: "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Our mission is to seek the Lord first, trusting Him to provide all we need. And when we see others in need and we have something we can give, we are to give with the love of Christ, recognizing that we will never run out of what we need, as long as we continue to seek Christ first. We cannot worry that our supply may run out. If we have abundance today, we are to trust in Him, and let providence provide for tomorrow.

This is not to say that it's easy to live worry free, but it should be easy to trust God after all He's done for us.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust in you today, as I remember all you've done for me. Help me to trust you tomorrow, knowing every day is a gift from you. Amen.

Thoughts on Worship

Have not had time to do much writing lately, as I have been consumed with a lot of other concerns between two jobs, settling into a new city, etc. Sorry about that, if anyone has been checking in regularly for posts.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Suggested Reading: Ruth 2

Ruth 2:11-12 Boaz answered her: "Everything you have done for your mother-in-law, since your husband's death has been fully reported to me: (how) you left your father and mother, and the land of your birth, and how you came to a people you didn't previously know. May the Lord reward you for what you have done and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

Ruth had taken a big risk going with Naomi. She had truly left behind everything she knew. She had truly surrendered her life to God's will. She didn't know if they'd survive the journey, let alone find a place to live or what kind of life it would be. She didn't know if they'd be accepted or outcast or where her next meal was coming from. She went because she knew it was the right thing to do, and because he love for Naomi was stronger than her love for herself.

I don't know about you but I love myself too much sometimes. I save the last piece of cake or candy for myself, perhaps. I make plans for something I really want to do without regard for what my wife wants and then drag her along. Sometimes she doesn't mind, but is this really loving her the way I should? How many times do we all put ourselves first? How different is this attitude from that of the one who died on a cross for us? Jesus put us first.

We need to constantly remember not just the price of the cross, but the attitude behind it. The sacrificial lifestyle of our Savior is one we are called to ourselves. Ruth knew what sacrificial living was all about. We need to teach ourselves, until it's our first choice, not our last choice.

Prayer: Lord, help me to follow your example and live a sacrificial life. In a world that encourages me first thinking, let me put your people first, just as you did. Amen.

UNFALTERING LOYALTY

Suggested Reading: Ruth 1

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: For Naomi, it was an act of kindness. Her husband and sons were dead. She was moving to a land with which the women were unfamiliar. It was a bitter pill for her to swallow, and Naomi's kind heart couldn't bear to ask her daughters-in-law to share it. After many tears, Oprah went back to her family, but Ruth refused to leave. Her words are some of the most beautiful in the whole of scripture, often heard at weddings today:

"Do not ask me to leave you or return and not follow you.
For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live.
Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."

How many of us would have the bravery of Ruth? How often do we see loyalty like this today? So often friendships are fickle. We are happy to stick with our friends in the good times, but when trouble comes, we just pull away. At least in Western society, this has almost become the norm.

Neither Ruth nor Naomi knew what would happen to them during their journey, but Ruth's fondness and love for her mother-in-law wouldn't allow her to turn away, when she knew she was needed. In the end, God blessed Ruth with a new husband and both women with a wonderful new life. He promises to do the same for us, if we just stick with him through good times and bad.

Prayer: Oh Lord, help my loyalty to you never to falter in a world of declining loyalties. Let me return your loyalty with deep devotion to you. Amen.

FAITHFUL ABANDON

Okay. this is a repeat. But this was the first devotional I submitted for publication and it was finally accepted for THE UPPER ROOM January-February 2010 issue, so I wanted to share it again.

FAITHFUL ABANDON

Suggested Reading: Exodus 33

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.” Ex. 33:10 NIV

The music swelled as hands clapped to the beat. The Holy Spirit was filling our hearts as our voices cried out in praise. Suddenly, the little boy in front of us, maybe four years old, began clapping as well, as crumbs from his cookies flew all around us. His mother reacted, embarrassed, but my heart was filled with wonder. Do I still drop everything at a moment’s notice to worship the Lord? Do I practice my faith with such abandon? Have I forgotten how?

I remembered the days when Israel traveled the desert. Whenever a pillar of cloud appeared outside the Tabernacle, they would drop everything where they were and worship. They lived recognizing God’s presence daily. Their journey was long and hard, over many years, and with time, their devotion wavered as questions arose. Soon, they weren’t as ready to worship with total abandon.

Through my own daily struggles and difficulties, I too forget that my highest purpose is to worship God. It is the main purpose for which I was made. When I worship Him, I am connecting with my heavenly Father in a special fellowship that renews and refreshes me for what lies ahead. In such moments, I feel His presence, I delight in Him, and He delights in me. After seeing a boy’s worship, I am praying that God would give me the sense of abandonment I need to worship Him in every moment. Ultimately, a lifestyle of worship is the greatest testimony I can offer.

PRAYER: Lord, help me live with worshipful abandon in every moment. Amen.

This devotion is set to be published in the March-April 2010 issue of THE UPPER ROOM.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. --Genesis 3:16 (NIV)

The fruit was inviting. It looked so good and Eve wanted it. What was the harm? She had always been tempted, but when the serpent told her God was keeping it from her to hide its powers, she couldn’t resist any longer. She had to have it. And when she ate it, she knew her husband Adam had to have it, too. It was one simple moment of weakness, one small mistake, but it forever altered their lives.

How many times are we tempted by forbidden fruit? From members of the opposite sex to possessions, temptations are all around us daily. Many find them hard to resist, even those of strong faith who never thought it could happen to them. It looks so good. What could be the harm? And then their world falls apart.

What should we do when we are tempted? 1st Corinthians 10:13 tells us no temptation will come before us which is beyond our strength to resist. Mark 14:38 tells us that we should watch and pray so that we are not overcome by temptation. Always being on our guard and knowing our own weakness are the greatest defenses we can have. Those and constant prayer. God can shield us when we cannot stand on our own. All we have to do is ask, and in our weakness, He will be our strength.

PRAYER: Father God, protect me from my own sinful desires and clothe me in your righteousness that in my weakness, I might be strong in you. Amen.

This devotion, published Tuesday April 21 in THE SECRET PLACE was inspired by my missionary work in Ghana, West Africa.

HIS LOVE IS ALL

NIV Genesis 1:30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

I walked through the streets of the Kakumba Yam Market in Accra, Ghana, and everywhere I looked I saw poverty and desperation. People living in piles of wood or clothes, open sewers, trash. But none of this was apparent on the faces of those who greeted me. Their white teeth smiled so wide, they reflected the sunlight. Their eyes were warm and inviting. Here in the midst of the worst conditions, they had found the joy of a Savior who provides.

Is my faith strong enough to weather any storm because of my confidence that God will provide for me? Do I live with the joy that no matter how little I have, His love is all I need? So often I am consumed with worry over what I want and don’t have that I forget to be thankful for all I already have.

I went to Africa determined to help them, and they helped me so much more. They opened my eyes to the true joy of salvation – providence, and the knowledge that it is not what we have but who we know that matters. What a blessing to know the Savior!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the confidence that in your Son, I have all I will ever need. Amen.