How insulting one might feel upon knowing the gift that was given to you, cost the giver absolutely nothing. In these present time since many are materialistic, the receiver might not mind at all. How about in you worship unto God? Do we do the same thing to Him? When it comes to giving something unto God...What Did it cost you? Was it your excess? Did you give it because you had plenty to spare?
In you worship unto God, what did it cost you to open your mouth and say thank you? Was your pride at stake? Was your reputation on the line? There are many way to give, many things that can be given unto God in your worship to Him. What is He worth to you? Much? They why give Him something that cost you noting?
The preacher will ask each member for $20, for some that's fine, $100 for those making thousands with plenty to spare, that's noting for them, they will give from their excess and their is no reason to trust God when your storehouse and supplies are plentiful. Seldom will church leader encourage people to give according to 2 Corinthians 9:7, you very well might exceed your meager 10% (required by Mosaic Law)
For those who think I'm judging people who are givers your missing the point of this article . While it is true that only God knows the heart of a matter, many believers will display their intentions in how they give. We intimidate and treat with contempt those whom do not agree or believe in the tithing system where the people are required to tithe like Israel and the preacher done not have to live like the Levitical Priests. When giving becomes an outward display of "these are the tithers" and the ones seated are not, draw attention to themselves and not to worshiping in giving. When you hold your tithe or offering envelope over you head, it is simply a visual to leadership as to how much can he expect in the coffers to day.
Sure, the preacher can explain to you all day long that holding the envelope over you head signifies unto God, Lord here it is, I am giving unto you" (in my ignorance I did this) . How do you think the ones who don't have feel as you hold up your and have nothing to hold up?. Folding your $20, $50 or $100 dollar bill in a manner so that all can see it as you march down the isle and in a showing manner place it in the plate; your money, your love gift is nothing more than an open show, and that is worthless unto God. If we would judge ourselves in these matters, writers like myself would not have to mention these displays of pride and arrogance that go on in worship services.
When you give something and you need that same something and it is of value to your, this is when you enter into the heart of giving something of value to God. If you are tired from working and you make your way to fellowship and corporate worship, your rest was something you need, staying on your schedule was of value to you and you sacrifice it. Your focus shift from dependency on man and self when you decide to trust God in what you give Him, that is of value to you. The same when you give your resources, your money, if you need it and you give it, your faith is in action and that itself demonstrated you recognize that God is your resource.
Even your Salvation came at a cost that was precious to the giver (Jesus Christ). It cost God His Son and it cost the Son His life. What God gave us was something of value. For us to receive it we had to give up something that we deemed as precious to us. We had to give ourselves, our time, our way. To this day, believers will give God whats left over or excess. After we have done everything that we want to do, we give Him what we have left over.
This post was not meant to be a bible study lesson on giving, just something to cause us to look at what we do while we give. I believe it ceases to be "Worship In Giving" when we turn it into money raising session. I remember when it use to be a private matter between the giver and God, we (churches) now say.."Its Good To Be Seen Giving". Thinking like this, attempts to place guilt on those who do give, into possibly thinking "I don't want people to think I am not a giver".
There is much peer pressure placed in the laps of church members to be seen (at the least) in the offering line sometime. Churches will ask the tithers to stand (and form a line to my left and your right), then it is announced to those watching..."these are blessed because they give unto the Lord, that which is His". And those sitting there are left to feel embarrassed and shamed. If what you give, causes you to not even feel the slightest of...I need this money); what you are giving is simple charitable and is more than likely not spirit lead giving. Do you give according to the Law? Do you give because you are afraid of a curse? Then your giving is fear based and that's not worship but it is paying tribute.
Is it your best? Or your Excess?
Going Against The Grain
In you worship unto God, what did it cost you to open your mouth and say thank you? Was your pride at stake? Was your reputation on the line? There are many way to give, many things that can be given unto God in your worship to Him. What is He worth to you? Much? They why give Him something that cost you noting?
The preacher will ask each member for $20, for some that's fine, $100 for those making thousands with plenty to spare, that's noting for them, they will give from their excess and their is no reason to trust God when your storehouse and supplies are plentiful. Seldom will church leader encourage people to give according to 2 Corinthians 9:7, you very well might exceed your meager 10% (required by Mosaic Law)
For those who think I'm judging people who are givers your missing the point of this article . While it is true that only God knows the heart of a matter, many believers will display their intentions in how they give. We intimidate and treat with contempt those whom do not agree or believe in the tithing system where the people are required to tithe like Israel and the preacher done not have to live like the Levitical Priests. When giving becomes an outward display of "these are the tithers" and the ones seated are not, draw attention to themselves and not to worshiping in giving. When you hold your tithe or offering envelope over you head, it is simply a visual to leadership as to how much can he expect in the coffers to day.
Sure, the preacher can explain to you all day long that holding the envelope over you head signifies unto God, Lord here it is, I am giving unto you" (in my ignorance I did this) . How do you think the ones who don't have feel as you hold up your and have nothing to hold up?. Folding your $20, $50 or $100 dollar bill in a manner so that all can see it as you march down the isle and in a showing manner place it in the plate; your money, your love gift is nothing more than an open show, and that is worthless unto God. If we would judge ourselves in these matters, writers like myself would not have to mention these displays of pride and arrogance that go on in worship services.
When you give something and you need that same something and it is of value to your, this is when you enter into the heart of giving something of value to God. If you are tired from working and you make your way to fellowship and corporate worship, your rest was something you need, staying on your schedule was of value to you and you sacrifice it. Your focus shift from dependency on man and self when you decide to trust God in what you give Him, that is of value to you. The same when you give your resources, your money, if you need it and you give it, your faith is in action and that itself demonstrated you recognize that God is your resource.
Even your Salvation came at a cost that was precious to the giver (Jesus Christ). It cost God His Son and it cost the Son His life. What God gave us was something of value. For us to receive it we had to give up something that we deemed as precious to us. We had to give ourselves, our time, our way. To this day, believers will give God whats left over or excess. After we have done everything that we want to do, we give Him what we have left over.
This post was not meant to be a bible study lesson on giving, just something to cause us to look at what we do while we give. I believe it ceases to be "Worship In Giving" when we turn it into money raising session. I remember when it use to be a private matter between the giver and God, we (churches) now say.."Its Good To Be Seen Giving". Thinking like this, attempts to place guilt on those who do give, into possibly thinking "I don't want people to think I am not a giver".
There is much peer pressure placed in the laps of church members to be seen (at the least) in the offering line sometime. Churches will ask the tithers to stand (and form a line to my left and your right), then it is announced to those watching..."these are blessed because they give unto the Lord, that which is His". And those sitting there are left to feel embarrassed and shamed. If what you give, causes you to not even feel the slightest of...I need this money); what you are giving is simple charitable and is more than likely not spirit lead giving. Do you give according to the Law? Do you give because you are afraid of a curse? Then your giving is fear based and that's not worship but it is paying tribute.
Is it your best? Or your Excess?
Going Against The Grain
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