Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering. This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.“
(Exodus 25:1-7)

“Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly; not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.“
(1 Peter 5:1-3)

The Israelites left Egypt with the BEST of the BEST. Look at the list at the front of chapter 25. Remember, these people had been slaves. They had not had many possessions. This was what the Lord got for them when they were leaving (Genesis 45:20; Exodus 11:2). God did not ask for it all back. God did not ask for it for Moses or Aaron or Miriam or any of the other elders. It was to build the sanctuary. And it was ONLY those people who WANTED to give. It was also ONLY what those people WANTED to give. Everyone got to choose what they gave, if they gave, and there was ZERO judgment for those who did not. There were no awards, cheers, or laurels for those who did. God LOVES a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who have a heart to see His work completed and glory given to Him because of it.

We have come to a place in the modern era where we are afraid of giving money. We have embraced the idea that giving automatically makes US have less. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sadly, there are those who have also taken from believers. Men and women who want to line their pockets, not do the work of the Lord. And I am NOT knocking big churches. Sure, the narrative is that they are all crooks. But there are globe-spanning ministries with buildings, programs, and yes, even airplanes, where the men and women of God in charge do not take a PENNY from those who give – earning their salaries in other ways, from PRODUCTS and not DONATIONS. There is honour in giving. There is a BLESSING in being given the opportunity to sow into a ministry. Yes, we should be careful who we give to (donations are never DEMANDED, they are always ACCEPTED). Yes, we should give as GOD leads us (not a sales pitch). And yes, even though we give, God gives back MORE THAN we give to Him. We are BLESSED because we BLESS and HONOUR Him with our giving.

Summary

Tithing and giving started right at the beginning. First with Abel and Cain, then with Abraham, and on it went. Giving to the Lord of our best and doing it first BEFORE we spend/use it is a BLESSING. It is a PRIVILEGE. Imagine God wanting to partner with us with our resources. Imagine getting to be a co-labourer WITH Him. It’s astounding, when you really think about it. It is a JOY to give. The amount doesn’t matter, when it is the amount in your heart. This is not a calculation. This is WORSHIP. And it doesn’t have to be MONEY, if you don’t have it. It can be ANYTHING God puts on your heart. Time. Work. Whatever. There is a role for everyone and a need for everything. Bless God today and honour Him with your giving. We’re only able to give because He provides for us. It’s only right to honour that and grow the Kingdom.