"From the Heart"

 "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:" (Hebrews 7:5 KJV)

  "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:17 NLT)

 Making this take on something a little more interesting, thanks to everything God has done in order to make us His precious treasure, we have an obligation to shine as if we really are His treasure; not so much because we must, but because we should. There are two parables that Jesus spoke about, the one about the buried treasure, and the other about the great pearl: both of which have been shown by some to be us, finding God, and then giving up all we have to have Him. 

 Well, as Pastor Bryan said Sunday, "Let's see, The Rest of the Story!" In Matthew 13:37 - 51, Jesus is sharing about three specific things, that all show the Kingdom of Heaven, as to what it is like; primarily, it is showing us what God makes it to be, based upon those of us who make up His Kingdom. Right in the middle of the wheat and the weeds, and sorting of the fish, Jesus describes the buried treasure and great pearl. 

 Something to think about, because there is a powerful point to what Jesus is showing us, about how much the Father loves us...

"All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all."   

"Obligatory" - To

"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4 KJV)

  "The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (PSALM 121:5-8 NLT)

 Just to keep this real, if we really trust God will do everything that He has promised, then we need to be very sure that we trust in Him, with all our heart, not forgetting that He more than able! As it is, doubt is only something that causes us to surrender all and trust Him even more!  

 Right now, I am reading the Book of Job. I have probably read that Book at least two-dozen times or more, but now I am reading out loud, because I am reading it to my wife. We are currently going through the whole Bible, a chapter at a time, and reading it out loud has brought out certain things that I really never saw before.

 Chapters 13 & 14 are a bit much, as those are the ones where Job wants to argue his case with God! As much as I might have something to complain about, I don't think I have enough to argue about it with God; but then again, I also feel sorry for Job, knowing full well that he was being tested. 

 There are several times in the Bible when we see God testing someone; Abraham is one in particular, as God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Yet, God told Abraham very specifically that Isaac was the child through whom his descendants would be counted. (Genesis 21:12) So either Abraham believed that God would change His mind, or that God would raise Isaac back to life again; either way, God was testing Abraham's belief in Him and His promises.

 Not that I think God was testing me, because I have been the one who made the choice to give what I give; besides that, in Job's case, it was the devil that caused this to happen to Job; God allowed it to happen, because God knows how it turns out! Do you believe that? Can you receive that? More than anything else, I believe God knows everything we are going to do, even before we think about doing it, He has it all planned out, as to what to do about it!

 In that case, this new word, "Obligatory," has another meaning, which is, "to give to someone as his own." If that doesn't make you think about it, how about: "to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return." Oh my, the things we think are ours, really don't belong to us...

"The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him." (PSALM 24:1 NLT)   

"Obligatory"

 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4 KJV)

  "I look up to the mountains - does my help come from them? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!" (PSALM 121:1-2 NLT)

 Yes, we are learning a new word today; or at least I am! Seems to be that I have been having some sort of doubt about my tithing, as if there might be a chance that I am giving too much. But in reality, my issue is something more, as it is, there is something or someone else that matters much more than any amount of money! 

 Now about this word, "Obligatory," which is taken from one of the meanings of the word, "gave," in the verse that I am sharing on today. Basically, the word is one that means '"to give what is due" much like if you owe someone wages or a reward. In other words, there is an obligation involved in this giving, not that you are forced or have been given a command, but that it is what you have said in your heart that you would do! 

 Looking at it that way, it is more of a promise, than it is a requirement; although, a requirement is still the reason that you can overrule the doubt...

"Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever." For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you." (2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NLT)

"Worship in Giving"

  "Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Isreal, who are descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

 " The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. In addition, we might even say that these Levites - the ones who collect the tithe - paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. For although Levi wasn't born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham's body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him." (Hebrews 7:4-10 NLT)

  "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:17-21 KJV)

 Having said those things yesterday morning, I had to wonder if I might have said too much, having no real knowledge of most of what was said. Then again, I really do believe that our God is much bigger than we might think! Hopefully that doesn't make anyone concerned over the certain characteristics of God they might have imagined, because from what I have been told, God is over all and in all! 

 With that, I just need to remember that He has the power to take, just as He has the power to give! We shouldn't think that our giving goes for the church or to any particular people, because what we give is sign of worship to God. As a matter of fact, when God said that He was cheated, as it says in Malachi 3:8, it wasn't for the money that He was cheated, because everything is already His! 

 No, my dear brothers and sisters, if we cheat God for anything, it is our ability to be blessed by Him...

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV)  

"Beyond All of That!"

 "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3 KJV)

  "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." (John 1:14 NLT)

 If we really think about it, there is really nothing in this world that has more value than the salvation we have in Christ. It really doesn't matter how rich or poor we are; whether we live or die; whatever state or condition we might living in, or how hard the road is that we travel. Nothing else is more important than the life we have been given Christ Jesus! 

 There are certain things that are hard to explain, one of which is all of the characters and manifestations of Jesus Christ. The simple way to try and understand it, is to follow John's lead, which is that Jesus is and was the Word of God! Which, for our simple and limited understanding is actually that, a manifestation, whether it be light, or word, or any other object of the presence or character of God.

 Not that He isn't God, because the Bible clearly says that He is, but that He will manifest Himself to be whatever He needs to be; whatever the Father requires, He can and will make it happen. That is really just what it appears to be; God is much more than anything we could ever imagine. I have shared on this before, about the magnification of brain cells, and how, if magnified enough, it has the appearance of what looks like the universe.

 Imagine that, if the universe was just a brain cell of God; and here we are, living inside His head! Okay, I know that sounds crazy and beyond all possibilities; but I do believe that we serve a very Big God; bigger and greater than we could ever imagine...

"John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'" From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us." (John 1:15-18 NLT) 

"The Tithe" - Too

 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2 KJV) 

  "While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."" (Luke 21:1-4 NLT)

 I'm sure everyone is familiar with this, "The Widow's Mites," as it has been shared over and over, in just about every church, all around the world. It gives two very important illustrations, the fact that God really does bless a person that gives generously, and secondly, giving really is a form of worship! 

 As for that closing Scripture from yesterday's post, we really need to understand that God does give and take away! If we so arrogantly think that we make things happen on our own, as if our work is what makes us successful and prosperous, we really need to think again, because God is the source of all life and He blesses those who bless others, and He can take away from those that don't! 

 There was one lesson I learned from that book, "Your Money Matters," that God really does care how we give; that those who are cheerful givers, actually do get blessed, even if it isn't financially. Blessings come in several different ways, but giving cheerfully does more than just please God, it is a celebration in our heart to what God has given! 

 Should every Christian tithe? That would be wonderful if they did! You would be surprised by the percentage of Christian's that don't actually tithe. The largest percentage of giver's only give what they feel that they can afford, without even considering what they should give, they just give a small portion of what they make. 

 Surprisingly, if it doesn't go towards the church, it will be given to the devil! If you haven't heard that before, then you have not been paying attention to certain sermons on giving, which most people will do, as soon as hear the message is about tithes and offerings. 

 If you don't believe it, then consider the things that take away from you, like your car breaking down, or anything else that will waste your money. Take a moment to think about what you should have given, and compare that to what was wasted; chances are, they will most likely equal out...

""Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me, You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring your tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, and I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies."" (Malachi 3:8-11 NLT) 

"The Tithe"

 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2 KJV) 

  "Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT)

 I will try to be gentle in this, somewhat private message, about giving ten percent of your wages to God. As it is, there are some who say and believe that tithing is not necessary for a Christian, because we are not under the law of Moses. Well, as deep as that subject might be, it was Abraham that first established the tithe, as we can see here in this Scripture above. And why did he give ten percent of all that he had gained; because he knew that he was in the presence of the KING! 

 There are some things that I might fail to do, not on purpose, but just because I sometimes don't think before I speak. The one thing I am very serious about is tithing, which is something I learned about in our pre-marital counseling, back in 1982. We were given several books to read, one which was about money and giving. It was a book called, "Your Money Matters", which basically means, that your money really matters to God! 

 It's not that God needs your money, because He has everything already; everything belongs to God, even our very breath is His; nothing is ours, as we came into this world naked, and naked we will leave. That said, He loves to see us give, because it is giving honor and thanks to Him for what He has done! In other words, the money we have made, is money that He has allowed us to have.

 I know that there are some who think that they earned everything themselves, as if it was because they are so good at what they do, or as if they have built something from nothing. But the honest truth is plainly seen in the final result: You don't have a single cent when you leave...

"Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!" ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."" (Luke 12"13-21 NLT)