Deut 16:16 “Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear before the Lord without a gift for him. 17 All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God.
The secular world and commerce has taught the people of the world to try to always get something for free. If not free, then they are always looking for a discount. The days to just pay a fair amount or give the ability for one to make a decent profit is but disappearing. Discounts are not a bad thing but to demand it when we feel we have been wronged is another matter and the world's way.
In the bible, as Christians, when a Roman soldier asked one of God's people to carry his back pack for one mile, Jesus said to carry it for two miles. If a person sued you for your shirt, Jesus said to give him your coat. The bible says, it you have been wronged, be wronged to keep the peace.
Christians should be known for giving grace and we should be a people of giving and offering rather than taking and sucking life from others. If you feel you have been wronged in a business transaction or a sale, then if you can give grace, give grace. If you demand a discount or if you demand it for free then you may just be like the world. What difference are we? Who's light are we shining?
I know many people who work hard and many business owners who work hard. If they make a mistake and it does not cost me anything, then I give them grace. I have learned as I give them grace and show respect, God will move their hearts to make things right. And even if they do not give me anything or a discount, let us reflect as God's salt and light in us by accepting what God allows. We are called to be peacemakers.
With that said, many Christians treat the House of God the same way. Many of us have become like the world and we are always expecting things for free from God. Many Christians come to HIM empty handed. In the bible, HE says that we must not appear before HIM without a gift (offering). We expect HIM to heal and deliver us but we would make the large offering to the hospitals and doctors instead and we have stopped putting HIM first. And this is why many of our prayers do not get answered as we have not put HIM first.
If we really knew how Grace has saved us, we would have such a joyful heart always willing to offer to God because we love HIM. Many work for themselves because they love themselves so they can buy the iphone or ipad for themselves. But how many work and save for God to make HIS House have something special or to make sure the barn house is full so God's people are taken care of first. Sadly, only a very few.
As verse 17 states, give according to the blessings given to you by the Lord your God. But many do not and so they themselves have stopped their own blessings.
We must return as a people who gives with a joyful heart to make tithes and offering to God and to stop expecting everything for free from HIM. Yes, HE has paid the full price but where is your appreciation and gesture? We need to stop coming to HIM empty handed and expecting HIM to keep blessing us when we have yet to bless HIM.
Fire of God Church
An International Holy Fire Ministry |
Fremont, CA
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
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