A Tale of 1,000
Not necessarily dollars. It could be pesos, euros, francs, marks, pounds, yen, rands, liras, etc. Any of these may well serve for the glory of God. Think of a young person who determines to please the Lord.
1. God supplies his needs and he gives thanks. God is glorified.
2. He sets aside the surplus and still more, giving sacrificially, what he really needed himself. This reminds God of His Son, who gave Himself as the great Sacrifice. God is pleased.
3. He gives this on Lord's Day, 1 Corinthians 16:2, again God is honored.
4. He prays about the allocation, and obeys the Holy Spirit. God is glorified.
5. The recipient was trusting God for his need. God is glorified.
6. He receives this gift and praises the Lord. God is glorified.
7. He uses it in his work, spreading the Gospel. God is pleased.
8. Souls are saved and blessed, and many will give glory to God.
9. They join in spreading the Good News and so it continues in ever-expanding circles. Much glory to God.
10. God reserves rewards for all involved, His future pleasure.
Who would ever think that one (sacrificial) gift could bring so much glory to God! Of course many give generously out of their superabundance. This has the same effect, although the personal reward is necessarily less significant.
New Testament sacrifices are not bulls and goats. There are other forms of sacrifice for consecrated Christians:
1. Our bodies, living sacrifices, holy, day by day, moment by moment. This is acceptable to God, and should come first.
2. Spiritual sacrifices, as living stones in the spiritual house, as holy priests, also daily, hourly. These are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, our great High Priest.
3. Monetary sacrifices, as the Philippian contribution to Paul, delineated by the Spirit as acceptable, well pleasing to God.
These two latter are brought together in Hebrews 13: spiritual sacrifices continually, and doing good or communicating (having fellowship, same root). With both kinds, God is well pleased.
The word sacrifice is used in the Bible both for an animal sacrifice, and for what hurts to give. The Spirit also refers to mammon, from the word trust. Of course in a materialistic culture, we always think of security in fiscal terms. Our Master did not say that we should not serve God and Mammon, He said twice it is impossible to do so. Our tendency is to alternate between the two.
Coins in U.S.A. currency have the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST. Since the expression is all in capital letters, we cannot tell if it means God or god. No doubt, the framers meant the former. But still one wonders.
All money is not filthy lucre, better translated base gain (JND, Vine). We can use Mammon as a friend, or to win friends. This must mean the use of money in the Lord's work to help get out the Gospel. The Lord added that He would not commit the true riches to any who were unfaithful in their use of mammon.
What we leave on earth at the end of life's journey can be specified for family or the Lord's work. When the Rapture takes us all home together, what we leave will be claimed by the government of the man of sin.
“When I come again I will repay thee.”
According to a recent survey, the twelve richest countries (including Canada and U.S.A.) have a combined wealth of $227 trillion, or $553,000 per capita. We sing with sincerity that the whole realm of nature, planet Earth, would be an offering far too small. Then, put a dollar in the offering?
1. God supplies his needs and he gives thanks. God is glorified.
2. He sets aside the surplus and still more, giving sacrificially, what he really needed himself. This reminds God of His Son, who gave Himself as the great Sacrifice. God is pleased.
3. He gives this on Lord's Day, 1 Corinthians 16:2, again God is honored.
4. He prays about the allocation, and obeys the Holy Spirit. God is glorified.
5. The recipient was trusting God for his need. God is glorified.
6. He receives this gift and praises the Lord. God is glorified.
7. He uses it in his work, spreading the Gospel. God is pleased.
8. Souls are saved and blessed, and many will give glory to God.
9. They join in spreading the Good News and so it continues in ever-expanding circles. Much glory to God.
10. God reserves rewards for all involved, His future pleasure.
Who would ever think that one (sacrificial) gift could bring so much glory to God! Of course many give generously out of their superabundance. This has the same effect, although the personal reward is necessarily less significant.
New Testament sacrifices are not bulls and goats. There are other forms of sacrifice for consecrated Christians:
1. Our bodies, living sacrifices, holy, day by day, moment by moment. This is acceptable to God, and should come first.
2. Spiritual sacrifices, as living stones in the spiritual house, as holy priests, also daily, hourly. These are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, our great High Priest.
3. Monetary sacrifices, as the Philippian contribution to Paul, delineated by the Spirit as acceptable, well pleasing to God.
These two latter are brought together in Hebrews 13: spiritual sacrifices continually, and doing good or communicating (having fellowship, same root). With both kinds, God is well pleased.
The word sacrifice is used in the Bible both for an animal sacrifice, and for what hurts to give. The Spirit also refers to mammon, from the word trust. Of course in a materialistic culture, we always think of security in fiscal terms. Our Master did not say that we should not serve God and Mammon, He said twice it is impossible to do so. Our tendency is to alternate between the two.
Coins in U.S.A. currency have the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST. Since the expression is all in capital letters, we cannot tell if it means God or god. No doubt, the framers meant the former. But still one wonders.
All money is not filthy lucre, better translated base gain (JND, Vine). We can use Mammon as a friend, or to win friends. This must mean the use of money in the Lord's work to help get out the Gospel. The Lord added that He would not commit the true riches to any who were unfaithful in their use of mammon.
What we leave on earth at the end of life's journey can be specified for family or the Lord's work. When the Rapture takes us all home together, what we leave will be claimed by the government of the man of sin.
“When I come again I will repay thee.”
According to a recent survey, the twelve richest countries (including Canada and U.S.A.) have a combined wealth of $227 trillion, or $553,000 per capita. We sing with sincerity that the whole realm of nature, planet Earth, would be an offering far too small. Then, put a dollar in the offering?
R.E.Harlow, Missions Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 11. Christian Missions in Many Lands
