Passage of the Day:
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth, Matthew 19:16-22.
Reflection:
If you’re not making much money, emptying your wallet for a worthy cause isn’t that difficult. However, when you’re making over $50K thousand per year or more like this rich young man in the first century, it’s hard to let go of wealth. To those tithing for the first time, looking at the amount on a check before placing this into a giving basket can be depressing. Subsequently, the key to avoiding the same fate of this rich young man is realizing the source of all money.
Prayerful Action:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows, James 1:17.
Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:
Once this spiritual truth in James about the source of all blessings is conceived, the fear of giving fades. This is when Christians become open to the words of one Old Testament prophet in Malachi 3:6-10. When a spirit of conviction falls upon believers that they are robbing God by not giving back, the concept of tithing begins to take shape. This opens hearts to charitable convictions, especially during the Christmas season. As Christians begin to grasp the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 3:5-6, trusting in God to provide will transform your desire to give.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Trusting in the Lord with all your heart can be hard for people with trust issues. However, as Christians mature by seeing God as the giver of all good things, charitable convictions will become a natural part of your life.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 