Giving - Daily Devotional December 29th, 2009

Daily Bible Reading - Job 39, Malachi 1, Revelation 17-18

Giving

This weekend we are going to be starting our new series PDA, public displays of affection. In this series we will be looking at different ways we publicly display our affection to God. One of those ways is in our giving.

In the Old Testament and even into the New Testament giving was a very public display of the believers. It was not just public before God but it was often times public to the congregation or the priests. In Mark 12:42 there is a story of a widow that gave money in the offering at church and Jesus Himself was watching. As He was watching He was touched as He noticed this woman gave everything she had. Jesus himself was watching and she gave publicly. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it says, "God loves a cheerful giver". From these two scriptures we see that God notices how we give and what we give.

In Malachi 1 God is more than displeased with the giving of His people. He is displeased because the people are not bringing in that which honored Him which was to be the best of the animals, fruits or grains. Instead of bringing in the best they were bringing in animals that were lame, sick or blind and keeping the best back for themselves. This according to Malachi 1:7 pollutes the very nature of our giving to God. We need to give God our best!

What is our best? According to Malachi 3:10 giving our tithe or 10 percent of whatever we make along with being generous (offerings) is all that is asked of us. As we bring in the best willingly and cheerfully God honors it and according to Malachi 3:10b He will open up the windows of heaven and pour out great blessings on us. Luke 6:38 says, "give and it will be given back to you pressed down shaken together and running all over"! I do not know about you but I like the running all over par of this scripture.

Giving your best brings joy to you, releases great blessings and honors God. Are you giving and are you giving your best? As we enter 2010 I want to ask you to put God to the test and for 3 months give your best, give your tithes and see if God honors His word with open windows of blessing over you.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Job 40, Malachi 2, Revelation 19-20

Dream Big
Ben