奉献 Giving
(Now this is something that is close to my heart.)
Statistics from US in 2008:
· Charity organizations received USD 307 billion in donation which is 2% of GDP
· 34% of that went to the church
· 13.3% went to education
Analysis:
· 78% gave
· 22 % did not
· Only 6% tithed
· Middle income families gave less, those who gave more are those who are rich and the poor
Teaching about giving:· Patriarchs 列祖
· Law 律法
· Back from Exile 回归
· Jesus 耶稣
· Paul 保罗
Patriarchs
There was no Bible, not even the Pentateuch. The people did according to their conscience.
Gen 4:3-5 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, (4) and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, (5) but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
The two brothers both gave to God. Cain gave crops and Abel gave from his flocks. God favoured one but not the other. Abel gave the best, the firstborn. We should give the moment we got our salary.
Deu 8:18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Gen 14:14-19 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (15) And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. (16) Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. (17) After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). (18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) (19) And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
Lot, Abram’s nephew was captured. Abram led 318 of his men to save him. His men are not military trained. He did it not by his own power. His 10% giving acknowledged God’s help.
When God delivered us from trials, we should be thankful.
Gen 28:13-15 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. (14) Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (15) Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Gen 28:20-22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, (21) so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, (22) and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you."
Jacob was on the run from his brother Esau after he took his birthright from him. God reiterated His promises to Jacob’s ancestors. Jacob responded appropriately by pledging to give to God 10% of what he received. When we are perplexed, remember Jacob’s experience.
God heard Jacob’s prayer. He brought Jacob back to his father’s place safely and provided for him.
Abel, Abram and Jacob gave us very good role models in giving to God.
Law
Deu 16:16-17 "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. (17) Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.
Lev 27:30,32 "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD. ... (32) And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the LORD.
“shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed” … a tenth of everything belongs to the Lord. The Levites had no land. The tithes are given to them. The tithes are to help the poor and needy. It also pays for the expenses for those people who travel from where they live to Jerusalem.
In today’s church, the tithes are channeled to a lot of charity organizations, missions and equipping, both locally and overseas. Some are used to pay the expenses of the local church as well as to pay the full time workers. We cannot come to the church empty-handed. In the past, they tithe every three years. Today, we give every week.
Back from Exile
Mal 3:7-11 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?' (8) Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. (9) You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. (10) Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (11) I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.
The Israelites did not tithe while in captive. When they returned from the exile, they were also not tithing. Malachi saw they didn’t tithe. He also saw how they suffered in poverty and how their crops were destroyed before harvest. Malachi pointed out a curse from God and reminded them of what they ought to do. He told the people that not giving what should be given to God is tantamount to robbing or cheating God. God told the people to try Him.
Is this still applicable in the dispensation of Grace? Tithing is not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament. But since tithing is the basic requirement and we are asked to exceed the basic requirement of law, we as stewards are to give even more.
Jesus
(no time for the other 2 points)
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