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Exodus 35:5
Please join us on Sunday mornings for worship at 9:30. We are studying “giving” this month. That is usually a sore subject with people since most preaching about giving becomes meddling! I am privileged to serve in a local family where that is not the case. Our people give generously to The Lord’s work and He blesses us abundantly. Giving is one of God’s attributes discussed in the book of Exodus which is, as one writer says, a book of the theology of God. It reveals God’s name for Himself – I AM THAT I AM! He also reveals many of His attributes (personal characteristics), His Law, how He is to be worshiped, and how redemption works. The closing chapters are dedicated to worship. We learn that God desires to be with His people and meet their needs. Such is the essence of our focal verse today. Let’s consider
- GOD ASKS US TO GIVE ONLY FROM WHAT WE HAVE! The first principle God teaches is that giving is personally possible. Satan will try to make you think it is not! One of the most forgotten truths about how God works with His people is that He always works with individuals. God didn’t create Israel, He created Adam, then Eve, then through many individual births God formed individuals into one nation. It works the same way in Christ’s Universal Church which is many individuals making one body. The principle of giving is seen in the phrase “from what you have.” Notice also how very personal that is. We are never to compare our giving with what we think someone else gives. If all you have to give is a cup of water, give it and watch God turn it into an ocean! Notice also
- GOD ASKS UO TO GIVE ONLY WHAT WE CAN! He is teaching us the second principle in giving is personally practical. God never asks us to give more than we can. He knows perfectly well what our situation and circumstances are. God wants ALL our heart/mind/soul/ and strength and we are able to give it ALL to Him at the instant of our salvation. However, God understandswe aren’t going to work that way. I thank Him for His patience while He waits for me to see I can do what He asks me. God wants an offering so He can fellowship with me and bless me as well. Finally,
- GOD ASKS US TO GIVE ONLY WHAT WE WANT! The third principle of giving is that it is a personal preference. Notice in verses 5, 20, 22, 29 that God wanted only those who were willing to give to do so. We aren’t told what or how much each gave, just that those who did so gave out of the desire of their heart. Verse 20 tells us their hearts were moved to give. Why? Because God works in our hearts, not in our heads, to move us to serve Him. The concept of giving out of desire is the realm in which Christians are to live. Jesus taught that if someone asks for our coat, we are to give them our sweater as well. Paul told us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices which is our reasonable act of worship. God asks us to give him only what we have and can give with the stipulation that it is given to Him out of desire. When we give to God voluntarily He is then able to replenish whatever we give using His abundance. So the question is what part of you haven’t you given God yet? The second question is why are you choosing to live in poverty in those parts of your life?
If we can help you with these or any other spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.
