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| What About Giving? |
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Pastors and TV preachers like to lay the law on people and twist their arms to get them to give to their church or to their "ministry". They even promise people special blessings for giving to their religious organization. Some claim that if you give to their group you will be given "prosperity" by which they mean plenty of money and other stuff.
Now religious organizations do need support, but not blind support. You need to pray about your giving and give where God leads you to give. Many churches use almost all their contributions to build and maintain buildings that are used only once a week, to pay utility bills, and to pay pastor salaries (some of them very large).
The Bible, however, speaks often about helping the poor. Churches are sometimes slow to do that. I encouraged a woman who couldn't pay her rent to go to her church (a huge one in Nashville) and talk to her pastor about the church helping her. She came back and told me she couldn't get an appointment with the pastor, but the secretary said they don't have the funds to help. (They own church buildings in three locations.) Could they not help their own member?
Jesus speaks several times about giving alms -- which means giving directly to the poor. Why not give alms-giving a try. Pick out someone in need and personally give him or her some money this week. It is a real blessing to give directly to a person in need. |
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| To add a comment to "What About Giving?" |
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| June 20, 2008 |
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Story time!
You sparked a memory of adopting a family at Christmas time through a "Dear Santa" program in the Twin Cities- MN. What started out as granting a wish to a little girl lead me to adopt a whole building in downtown Minneapolis! Finding the needs of those there and being on a military base at the time- I ran a "donation for Christmas" plea. I ended up driving out household furnishings, several HUGE bags of clothing, and items I felt the Lord asked me to bring. It was the most heartfelt thing I have ever seen! God knew the need and sent unasked requests. It was awesome. Never underestimate God. Some could not even face me to accept the gifts- but you know the Love of our Lord was planted. When I followed up with a family several months later she told me that when the families when through everything I left = there was not a dry eye in the house. God had something very personal to each of them and it effected them.
WE ARE CHURCH!! |
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| June 20, 2008 |
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| Awesome story, Bubbles! Touching the lives of others is the true blessing of giving! |
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| June 20, 2008 |
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Steve, I agree! How are we to help the poor, widows and orphans if our goal is to build buildings and fellowship with each other?
On the other hand, I am an administrator of our church's benevolent and utility assistance funds. We keep records to ensure that no abuse is taking place, but when we interview people almost 40% of them lie to us about receiving other sources of help and how often. There are some who make a living going from church to church looking for free handouts. Unfortunately, they ruin it for many who are genuine in their need; some churches just don't want to help anymore if they've been taken advantage of.
I love to help people in their need, but I hate it when I've been taken advantage of. It's not because it's my money or anything, it's because I want to be a good steward of God's resources. Listen to this: one time we helped a lady with a day's rent in a local Inn because she "just lost her home and job". Come to find out she was part of a prostitution ring at the Inn! Our church was supporting prostitution! I can't believe how people take advantage of the church.
Anyway, that's my story. We'll continue to help, because it's God's will for us, but we'll also be as careful as we can be, so that the right people get the help they need. |
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| June 20, 2008 |
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| It is good for a church to give, Ed, however, it is very important that we also give to people as individuals. I try to hear in my spirit what God is saying about who to give to and how much to give them. If God leads you to give to someone as an individual or as a church, then our obedience is the key and not how the person receieving it uses the money. They are responsible for what they do with the money, not us. |
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| June 21, 2008 |
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| Amen, DOC. |
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| June 21, 2008 |
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| The reality is that when a person considers giving they should take care of their immediate needs first. I'm not speaking about the tithe which is more an attitude of the heart but of offererings. Once the bills are paid if there is something that can be spared to sow a seed then consider going around the neighborhood to find where specific needs are. There are invalids that can't go out, and elderly people that need their grass cut and hedges trimmed. there are families with small children that can't make ends meet. A few bags of groceries would be a great blessing and would demonstrate the love of christ. We need to look for opportunities to do good even when we can't give money! |
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| June 21, 2008 |
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| We are blessed by giving to others, it may not be a material blessing, but rather a blessing in the knowledge we have made a small difference in someone elses circumstances. |
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| June 21, 2008 |
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| Good points, Prophet & Shirley. |
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| June 22, 2008 |
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I agree with you bro... Jesus helped the poor with a selfless compassionate heart, one which revealed the heart of our father, who rains on the just and unjust through unconditional love... and taught, "seek FIRST the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness" His Kingdom is not meat and drink and goodies... Jesus' motivation was not for us to seek to be blessed monetarily by giving ... but to receive eternal blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven, which never fade... when we receive that which the Kingdom of God offers... we desire to feed the poor... and we can lay aside the works/desires of the flesh which are self grandizing... self rewarding... self centered.... and.................
It saddens me when I discern a greedy, deceptive, manipulative spirit motivating some (unaware they are in the flesh) who teach 'giving' to get (treating our Dad like He's a sugardaddy rather than focusing on Who HE is) ... I think, 'since we have been born of His Spirit... we give because it is within us to give now ... but when some teach us to give to get... they tempt us with a spirit of greed... they tempt us with a spirit which desire us to join them in lusting after the flesh, lusting of the eye, and the pride of life... believing more is better... enough is never enough. They do not teach us to give for the sake of giving to those who have not and are in more of a need than ourselves.'
May I offer this link for all to consider? Click: "Feed My Sheep" The Spirit of the Lord Reaching Out through the Family of God
We find others are moved to do similar things by way of helping the poor out of compassion, not to get in return.... not out of obligation... although it is true, it is better to give than receive... but that is is not our motivation... Father's Spirit motivates us to love as we would be loved... His truth motivates us to live HIS truth as our own... the Holy Spirit of the resurrected Christ within motivates us... to do of Fathers will and good pleasure.... glorifying the Son and thus Our Father in the process.... heaping coals... bren |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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| "This is right" |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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| "This is right" |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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| "This is right" |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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| Thanks Holy Spirit and 4Christ. |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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Giving is not just in money.......we live on a tight budget, but hubby and I give to others in another way.......time and help with things they can't do. Hubby was raised building custom homes......when someone needs help with something in their home, he can do it and does! Yesterday, he offered to mow the neighbor's yard, who is a widow and out of town alot. I give eggs from our chickens to our elderly neighbors( on fixed incomes)....and whatever is growing in the garden at the time. Hubby even takes the neighborhood kids bike riding around the block with him and our granddaughter....gives the parents some free time :) Time is a gift too, I spend time with my elderly neighbor on the phone and visiting her, she doesn't get out.
Giving comes in all sorts of ways......and it's a way to show Jesus to them! |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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| That is very true, Cindy Lou. Thanks for pointing it out. |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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The Spirit of the Lord brought this scripture to mind bro...
1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in agreement with the faith of the saints of God and the full knowledge of what is true in harmony with religion, 1:2 In the hope of eternal life, which was made certain before eternal time, by the word of God who is ever true; 1:3 Who, in his time, made clear his word in the good news, of which, by the order of God our Saviour, I became a preacher; 1:4 To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. 1:5 I did not take you with me when I went away from Crete, so that you might do what was necessary to put things in order there, placing men in authority over the churches in every town, as I said to you; 1:6 Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled. 1:7 For it is necessary for a Bishop to be a man of virtue, as God's servant; not pushing himself forward, not quickly moved to wrath or blows, not desiring profit for himself; 1:8 But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled; 1:9 Keeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters. 1:10 For there are men who are not ruled by law; foolish talkers, false teachers, specially those of the circumcision, 1:11 By whom some families have been completely overturned; who take money for teaching things which are not right; these will have to be stopped. 1:12 One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work. 1:13 This witness is true. So say sharp words to them so that they may come to the right faith, 1:14 Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.
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| June 23, 2008 |
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Oh... and I sooooooo...... agree with Cindy Lou... we too try to live the same way....
when one serves the god of money/mammon one is motivated with the mindset, we can or cannot do something because we do or do not have money ... who we are being is what matters... not doing by way of serving filthy lucre... seeking to gain to profit oneself in the end |
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| June 23, 2008 |
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| Good word, HS. |
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| June 26, 2008 |
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| DOC: I think we must admit that we like to think that we do it by the Book, but in reality our traditions are more important to us. |
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| June 26, 2008 |
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you said: 'but in reality our traditions are more important to us.'
Traditions can become an idol... as can our 'interpretation' of the bible... interpreted through our present cultures/generations mindsets. - |
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| June 26, 2008 |
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| Thanks DOC and H.S. |
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| June 27, 2008 |
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| I appreciate that, Paul. |
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