May 2011                                                                                                                       

King David had an intensely strong desire to build a temple for God to replace the temporary tabernacle that was showing signs of deterioration.  Yet, because he was a man of war, God did not allow him to achieve that worthy goal. Instead, David's son, Solomon, was given the privilege of
building the temple. David's role was limited to providing the materials which would be used to construct the temple.

Unlike some people, David did not recoil in distaste at this role or refuse to participate because he was not granted his first desire. He rejoiced at being allowed by God to lead the people in gathering the necessary materials. And what was really significant was the fact that he didn't have to coerce people into giving the gold, silver and other items needed for the temple. In fact, he didn't even have to have a special campaign or any type of fund-raising drive.

First Chronicles 29 gives the record of this event. Repeatedly, we find the word "willingly" used to describe the response of the people in giving to the Lord. There was no coercion or intimidation. No guilt trip was laid on anyone because he didn't give. There was not even the slightest hint of any
kind of constrained or forced contribution. Instead, the people gave "willingly" so that the temple might be erected for God's glory.

Five hundred years later, when the temple was being rebuilt by Ezra, that same spirit prevailed. Just as in the initial construction, the people offered to God what was needed, and they did so "willingly."

Much has been said about finances and giving in our church, but God's universal principle about giving is this: Give willingly from the heart.  That theme runs throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It applies equally to people from all walks of life, to all races, to male and female alike, to young and old. We are to give willingly from the heart, not because we have to give or because we made a commitment to give, but because we have decided in our hearts to give.

As managers and stewards of what God has entrusted to us, when we give, we are only giving back to God what was His in the first place. When we give "willingly," we are blessed, and God is glorified by our spirit of willing obedience.

The Apostle Paul expressed it this way to the Corinthian church: "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." That's the key ‹ not giving because we have to, but giving willingly in a manner that allows giving to be one of life's most enjoyable pleasures.

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote these lines which we so often sing without really thinking of their meaning:

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.

After writing those words, Frances Ridley Havergal did what she sang. In her writings is this personal testimony: "'Take my silver and my gold' now means shipping off all my jewelry ‹ including a cabinet which is fit for a countess ‹ to the church missionary society. I don't think I need tell you," she wrote, "that I never packed a box with such pleasure."

What about you? As you give to the work of the Lord here at Oak Grove United Methodist Church this morning, is your giving marked by a sense of obligation or duty? Or, in keeping with God's universal principle concerning giving, are you giving "willingly" from the heart?

April 2011                                                                                                                      

As we have seen previously, the most important aspect of our giving is not the percentage or the amount, but the reason why we give. What motivates us to give should be the glory of God and the forward progress of His kingdom.  And as we have observed before, we should not become so concerned with the percentage or the amount of our giving that we miss the basic, underlying fact concerning money, material possessions and giving: It all belongs to God. We are only managers and stewards of what is rightfully His.

Tithing is a mathematical concept meaning "one-tenth." Although tithing is an Old Testament teaching, its truth carries over to the New Testament. Yet, tithing is not so much a legalistic requirement as it is a spiritual matter.  Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek over 400 years before the law was given by God. Tithing existed under the law, as well as after the law. Tithing is a universal truth that supersedes the law and one which continues today in this day of grace.

If tithing is so important, why, then, isn't it emphasized in the New Testament? The reason is very clear. Under the Old Testament economy, God's people were required to give from 25% to 33% of their income. That practice continued into much of the New Testament era. Would you not agree that it would seem a bit odd and even ludicrous to preach to people about giving 10% when they were already giving three times that amount?

In His rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23, Jesus indicated that they tithed even their spices but had omitted the more important aspects of their faith, including mercy and justice. But even as He condemned their wrong actions, He commended them for their tithing. Never did Jesus give so much
as a hint that tithing was not the right thing to do.

Think about it: If under the law, God's people gave as much as 33% of their income, shouldn't we ‹ living under grace ‹ be willing to give 10% and more?

In his booklet, Giving to God, Robert A. Laidlaw provides this illustration: "I go to a home where there is a little girl, five or six years of age, and give her a box of chocolates. She disappears, and when she returns, her lips and fingers are covered with chocolate. In another home, however, the box is opened at once and the little girl brings it to me and says, 'You have the first one.' 'Oh, no!' I say, 'they are for you.' 'But please,' she pleads, 'you brought them to me; please have the first one.' And helping myself, I say, 'Thank you, dear.' Which child has the warmest place in my affections,
and which is more likely to get another box of chocolates?"

Stephen Olford offers this striking commentary on that story: " . . . the tithe is the first chocolate handed back to God. For some, it will be one-tenth of the total income (as the word indicates); for others, it will be more. Never will it be less."

As you consider your offering to the Lord this morning here at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, and as you consider your overall pattern of giving, which little girl is like you? Do you consume all that God has provided? Or do you offer the "first chocolate" back to Him as a way of thanking Him for
all He has done for you?

March 2011                                                                                                                     

People are creatures of habit. All of us, to one degree or another, fit that description. Much of what we do in the course of daily living, we do out of habit. Habits, of course, can be very beneficial. For example, brushing our teeth after meals is a good habit. Looking both ways before crossing a busy
street is a good habit. Writing thank-you notes is a good habit.

But sometimes, habits can become so routine or "habitual" that they lose their impact in our lives. Occasionally, that can even happen concerning our giving to the work of the Lord here at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. We routinely give the same amount, not necessarily because of our promise to the Lord to do so, but out of habit. And sometimes, we miss a significant blessing from God because our pattern of habitual giving causes us to be insensitive to His specific leading in our lives concerning our giving.

Some people fall into a pattern and determine that they will only give a specific amount and no more. Others fall into a pattern by giving only a certain percentage and no more. Those are not necessarily incorrect patterns of giving, but if we are concentrating on the amount or the percentage, we
have missed the most important aspect of our giving, which is the reason why we give.

Wesley Wilmer provided some important instruction concerning why we give. He wrote, "Why should we give? The most obvious reason is that God commands us to give as part of His plan and order for our lives. . . .Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give because of what it was going to do for him. The
primary benefit [in giving] is always to the giver. . . .giving and receiving are part of the life of fellowship. Giving is a form of fellowship, and without sharing, the believer is off balance. As we give, a change will take place inside us; our relationship to others and to God will change."

Driving in England can be hectic for most Americans. The British drive on the left side of the road and sit on the right side of the car. But what is really confusing are the intersections called "roundabouts" which have no stoplights or stop signs. Before turning into one of these traffic circles, you have to know which lane takes you where you want to turn. You stay in the outer lane if you are taking the first turn, the middle lane if you go halfway around, and the inside lane if you go three-quarters of the way around. If you get in the wrong lane, you may end up going in circles.

Say, are you going in circles concerning your giving? Are you concentrating on a specific amount or percentage? Are you giving out of a sense of routine or duty or merely to satisfy some commitment you made to God? Those are good reasons to give, but there are much better reasons which all of us should seek to make our primary focus: Reasons such as giving to God because we are managers and stewards who are returning to Him what He has entrusted to us; because giving demonstrates our love to Him, who first loved us; because giving is part of God's plan for our lives; because God commands us to do so and promises a blessing to us for our obedience.

As you consider why you give, and as your consider your gift to the Lord this morning, please consider these words as well:

Only one life, 'twill soon be past;
Only what's done for Christ will last.

February 2011                                                                                                                    

As children, most of us probably liked to play "let's pretend." That harmless pastime offered an opportunity for us to dream and to let our imaginations soar. Via the wonderful channels of the mind, we were transported magically to places and times that were otherwise beyond our reach.

As adults, most of us probably like to dream and contemplate some of the "what if" situations of life. On the surface, there's nothing wrong with that practice. In fact, it's that kind of activity that often leads to some of our greatest ideas and inventions.

But playing "let's pretend" can be a problem in the Christian life if it means saying one thing and doing another, or as one author described it, if we are "talking further down the road than we are walking." For example, we might talk a lot about reading the Scriptures, when in reality, we seldom
pick up God's Word except to dust around it on the coffee table. We might convey the impression to others of the importance of prayer in our lives, when all the while, we actually pray very little. We might talk about how essential it is to be a positive encouragement to others in God's family. If
the truth were known, however, we would have to admit that we are usually the bearer of bad news and the possessor of a negative attitude. We might even attend church faithfully, but although our bodies occupy the pews, our minds regularly drift far, far away.

This kind of behavior is also possible when it comes to giving. We might like to convey the impression that we are "good givers," and we might be reasonably successful in our efforts since other people usually do not actually "see" our financial situation and our giving. However, if we are trying to say one thing and do another concerning our giving to the Lord, we will be confronted by our deception every time we look at the register in our checkbook. Here's why: Our checkbook will quickly and methodically strip away our pretense. We can deceive others; we can even deceive ourselves in many areas of life, but our checkbook always tells the truth about what is really important to us.

Charles Ryrie offered this powerful statement which lays bare the truth of our devotion:

How we use our money demonstrates the reality of our love for God. In some ways, it proves our love more conclusively than depth of knowledge, length of prayers or prominence of service. These things can be feigned, but the use of our possessions shows us up for what we actually are.

An unknown author wrote this:

Thirty thousand for my brand new car,
Fifty thousand for a piece of sod.
Twenty thousand I paid to begin a house;
A dollar I gave to God.

A tidy sum to entertain my friends in pointless chatter.
And when the world goes crazy mad,
I ask, Lord, what's the matter?
A dollar I gave to God.

Yet there is one big question,
For the answer I still search:
With things so bad in this old world,
What's holding back my church?

As you consider your answer to that question, and as you consider your giving to the ministry here at Oak Grove United Methodist Church this morning, are you "talking further down the road than you are walking?"


January 2011                                                                                                                    

Macedonia was a little country located north of Greece. Familiar Bible towns were located there, including Berea, Philippi and Thessalonica. Alexander the Great brought the country to prominence, and the Apostle Paul was summoned to preach there by a heavenly vision. As a result of his obedience to that call from God, many people in Macedonia became Christians.

As we have seen previously, numerous Bible characters were wealthy individuals. Men like Abraham, Moses, Job, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and others were blessed of God with great wealth. And as we have seen previously, perhaps for reasons best known only to Him, God allows some people to occupy higher positions than others on the ladder of economic success.

The Christians at Macedonia were just the opposite. For the most part, they were poor. Really poor. Dirt poor. Poor as church mice. You get the picture.

These were not the kind of folks to whom you might turn if you needed to take a special offering. They would be the last ones whom you would expect to give or even to be able to give. But listen to the tremendous commendation they received from the Apostle Paul as described in Second Corinthians chapter 8:

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us.

How was it the Christians in Macedonia who were in such extreme poverty could give so generously, so willingly, and so eagerly? It was because they first gave themselves to the Lord and then did as He directed in their lives. As a direct result of first giving themselves, they gave as much as
they were able and more.

Spiritual giving (the kind that honors God, the kind that ministers in His name to other people, the kind that stores up treasure in heaven) does not begin with the movement of the hand to the purse, wallet or checkbook.  Spiritual giving is something that begins in the heart. You see, when we give ourselves to the Lord, our financial resources will follow. Or as Stephen Olford described the Macedonian Christians so well, "Their giving was the outward expression of their utter dedication to God. The crowning point of their generosity was their complete self-surrender."

When we consider the spiritual giving of the Macedonians, can we do any less? Regardless of our economic status, when we consider how abundantly God has blessed us, and when we consider His claim on our lives and our possessions, our song and prayer must be that of Isaac Watts, who wrote:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

December 2010                                                                                                                    

Edward J. Hales wrote this provocative essay:

If offering plates could talk, what tales they could tell us. All week long they sit quietly in the treasurer's office, waiting for a few brief moments of service on Sundays. Each hand that passes along the offering plate represents a unique life journey, lifestyle, set of problems, ideals, values, and approach to giving. One hundred years ago, it was not uncommon for people . . . to drop a watch or piece of jewelry into the offering plates. Fifty years ago, nearly all of the offerings in local churches were paper currency and coins. In a typical evangelical church, today's offering plates collect most of the tithes and offerings from God's people in the form of checks, drawn on banks. While the look of the collection has changed over the years, the offering still represents a significant moment of
transaction between a person and God.

Here is the pattern which the Lord Jesus provided in the area of giving: "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." Think for a moment about the ramifications of this verse from
Second Corinthians chapter 8. Jesus Christ, the Creator of the world, the One whose name is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending of everything that exists, gave up heaven's glory to provide salvation for us. And according to Romans 5:8, He did so because of His love for us when we were
ungodly, when we had nothing whatsoever to offer Him in return.

Giving, you see, is not because poor God needs help in paying His bills. As the old chorus based on the psalms expresses it so well, "He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth in every mine; He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, the sun and stars that shine." It all belongs to Him, and when we give, we are just giving back to God what was rightfully His in the first place.

Giving is God's way of growing Christians. As we give to Him out of hearts motivated by His love and grace, our giving becomes a tangible expression of our love for Him. That's why when the offering plate is passed, it's not an obligation or a duty to give to the Lord. Giving is not something we have to do. Rather, it is a holy privilege to give to God as we worship Him in demonstration of our love for Him.

Here's what the Apostle Paul said about giving: "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." When the offering is received this morning, rather than maintaining a serious, somber disposition, you probably would be on solid biblical ground if you wanted to break into hilarious laughter.  However you give, though, give because you want to out of a heart full of love for God, not out of duty, obligation or compulsion.

If the offering plates at Oak Grove United Methodist Church could talk, what would they say about you and your giving? Would they testify of a life motivated by love for the Lord in response to His love for you, or would they have a different story to tell?

As you consider your answer, and as you consider your offering this morning, please consider this brief but powerful admonition from the Lord Jesus: "You received without payment; give without payment."

November 2010                                                                                                                    

One of the principles of the Christian life is this: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." But have you ever asked yourself why this is true?

The primary reason we give is because God first gave to us. He is the supreme giver as He opens His bountiful storehouse of blessings and provides for us again and again. Or as James 1:17 expresses it so clearly, "Every generous act of giving . . . is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."

Stop and think about it for a moment: The reason we have salvation is because " . . . God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." The reason we have life itself is because He gives us "everything for our enjoyment." The reason we are able to enjoy the fullness of our Christian faith is because the Holy Spirit has been given to us. Even our hope of eternal life is a gift from God as we look forward to being "away from the body and at home with the Lord."

As we have seen before, everything belongs to God. We are but managers and stewards of what He has entrusted to us. When we give to Him, we are only giving back to Him what belonged to Him in the first place. And when we follow God's leading by giving to His ministry here at Oak Grove United
Methodist Church, He in turn provides even more of His resources to us in a never-ending cycle of His blessing, followed by more of our giving, followed by more of His blessing.

Chuck Swindoll listed a few reasons why it is more blessed to give than to receive. He said, "Giving encourages unselfishness within us. Giving brings others needed relief and encouragement. Giving forces us out of our own tight-radius world. Giving keeps us from becoming too attached to material
things. Giving models the life Christ lived. Giving results in eternal rewards. Giving teaches us the value of servanthood. Giving makes us more cheerful, caring people. Giving prompts greater sensitivity toward others.
Giving provides an example for others to follow."

John Frederic Oberlin was traveling by foot in winter in the 18th century when he lost his way in a severe snowstorm. He feared he would freeze to death and in despair, he sat down, not knowing which way to turn. Just then, a man came along in a wagon and rescued Oberlin. He took him to the next village and made sure he would be cared for. As the man prepared to leave, Oberlin said, "Tell me your name so that I may at least have you in grateful remembrance before God." The man, who by now had recognized Oberlin, said, "You are a minister. Please tell me the name of the Good Samaritan." Oberlin replied, "I cannot do that, for it is not given in the Scriptures." His benefactor responded, "Until you can tell me his name, please permit me to withhold mine."

What a beautiful illustration this provides of the fact that Jesus did not come to be praised and served, but to give Himself "a ransom for all." He gave His life in ministry for us so that we might minister in His name to others.

As you give this morning, please remember this eternal truth: We do not give to get. We give because God first gave to us. That's why I'm glad to be a part of the Oak Grove United Methodist Church family and to support the Lord's work here through my giving. Through the years, I have learned that you cannot outgive God. In His unique accounting system, He never divides;
He always multiplies. Or as Annie Johnson Flint expressed it so well, "His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men; for out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again."


October 2010                                                                                                                     

A circus athlete earned his living by displaying astonishing feats of physical strength. His show would usually conclude with a simple but impressive demonstration of his ability to squeeze an orange dry. After completing his act, he would then challenge his audience to produce anyone who could extract even one drop of juice from the crushed fruit.

On one such occasion, a man volunteered. He was so small, though, that from his very appearance, he raised a laugh from the crowd. Undaunted by the response, the man stepped onto the stage and took from the athlete what appeared to be nothing more than a shriveled up piece of orange rind. Then, bracing himself, he slowly and firmly compressed his right hand. Every eye was on him, and the atmosphere was electric. A moment or two passed, and then to everyone's amazement, a drop of orange juice formed and dripped to the floor. As the cheers subsided, the athlete invited the man to tell the crowd how he had developed such powers. "There's nothing to it," replied the man. "I happen to be the treasurer of my church."

Sad to say, that's the picture many people have of the church and those who are responsible for its finances. But consecrated giving never results from arm-twisting, brow-beating, or squeezing. Consecrated giving ‹ the kind that honors God ‹ comes from a motivation that only the Spirit of God can provide.

The Apostle Paul gave this counsel in Second Corinthians 8:7 ‹ "Now as you excel in everything ‹ in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you ‹ so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking." In other words, just as we might seek to excel in other ways which demonstrate our Christian faith in action, we are also to excel in the grace of giving. And that, my friends, is possible only as the Spirit of God motivates us and enables us to give beyond what is required, beyond what might be squeezed or coerced out of us.

Early in the 19th century, Frederick William III, King of Prussia, found himself in great financial difficulty. He was carrying on expensive wars and endeavoring to make a great nation of the Prussian people. But he did not have enough money to accomplish his plans.

After much thought, he decided to ask the women of Prussia to donate their gold jewelry to be melted down and made into money for their country. He resolved, however, that for each gold ornament, he would give in exchange an iron decoration as a token of his gratitude. Each decoration would bear the inscription, "I gave gold for iron, 1813."

The response was overwhelming. And what was even more important was that these women prized their gifts from the king more highly than their former possessions. The reason, of course, is clear. The decorations were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. It became unfashionable for women to wear jewelry, and the Order of the Iron Cross was established. Members of this order wore no jewelry except for a cross of iron.

Commenting on this lesson from history, Stephen Olford wrote this: "The church today needs an army of people who are so committed to the King of Kings that sacrifice becomes a way of life. Such an army would do exploits for God; such an army would hasten the coming and reign of the King. . .
.Recruits for this army should be known as members of the Order of the Cross of Christ because they have experienced the grace of giving."

As Paul wrote so pointedly to the Christians at Corinth, we are to excel in the grace of giving. By the way, do you?

September 2010                                                                                                                    

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, as follows: "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God. . . .They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future. . . ."

The first response which most of us would have to this passage might be something like this: "Well, that certainly excludes me, for I am definitely not what could be described as 'rich.'" But "rich" is a relative term. What is meager to one person might be considered great wealth by another. What is
viewed as very little by someone in this country might be viewed as very significant by those in other lands. In reality, when compared with many people in the world, everyone here ‹ to one degree or another ‹ could be described as "rich."

Because all that we have comes from God's hand as a direct result of His blessing, we own nothing; we are just managers and stewards of what rightfully belongs to Him. As we have seen previously, when we give back to Him with the right heart attitude, we "lay up treasures in heaven." But as
Paul instructed Timothy, we also lay up treasure . . . for the coming age by giving to others. In fact, one of the primary reasons God provides so bountifully for us is that we might give to others.

A life-changing principle taught by our Lord is this: As we minister to others in His name, even to those who might be considered by some to be the "least" of His brethren, we minister to Him. And as we minister to Him, God in turn continues to pour out His blessings upon us. That's the truth
described by Solomon in Proverbs 11:25, "A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water."

Someone wrote, "The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in practical ways." And one of the best ways to do just that is to give to others. That's why the first of "Ten Rules for Happier Living"
published recently is this: "Give something away with no strings attached."

You see, all of us are infected to some degree by the curse of selfishness.  We are like the farmer who was single and wanted a wife, so he put an ad in the newspaper that read: "Man, 35, wants woman about 25, with tractor. Send picture of tractor."

But God's Word says we are to keep a healthy balance. We are to look out not only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others. We do that first and foremost by giving unselfishly in the Lord's name to His work and to people in need, wherever they are. Every time we give to the Lord's work here at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, and every time we give to meet the needs of others, we give away a little of our selfishness and our "me first" attitude. And as we do so, we can be confident of God's promise that we are storing up "treasure in heaven," treasure that will someday reap eternal benefits.

Dennis DeHaan wrote,

If we would fear and love the Lord,
And strive to keep His holy Word,
Our neighbor's good would always be
Of great concern to you and me.

Or as the Lord Jesus Christ expressed it so pointedly,

" . . . just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of
my family, you did it to me."

August 2010                                                                                                                    

One of the foundational truths of our Christian faith is found in Acts 20:35, where Dr. Luke encourages us to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" That message is why Christ came to earth to be our Savior. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

In fact, as we consider God's provisions for human-kind throughout the ages, that message is the supreme motivating factor behind all of God's goodness to us. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Think of some examples: God provided an ark to rescue Noah and his family.  Why? Because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

God provided the Promised Land to the nation of Israel. Why? Because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

God created a means in the Old Testament for sins to be covered temporarily through animal sacrifices. Why? Because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

And God provided the Lamb of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, as full payment for our sins. Why? Because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Does it not seem logical, then, that we should follow this beautiful pattern by concentrating on giving instead of receiving? Sad to say, the attitude of many people (including some Christians) is just the opposite. It is "me first." It is always looking out for number one, the individual they see in the mirror each morning. It is almost as though they go through life asking other people and God, "What have you done for me lately?"

In contrast to that attitude, Wayne Watts wrote, "As we give, we grow spiritually - learning to honor and reverence God and to always put Him first. Although Spirit-led giving has a vital part in helping the church and Christian organizations carry out their mission, we must remember that its primary purpose is not to help God pay His bills, but to help us to grow more like Christ. . . .Giving has always been God's way of teaching His people to be like Him."

You see, every time we give to the Lord's work, we give away a little of our selfishness and gain a bit more of the sacrificial spirit demonstrated by the Lord Jesus when He left heaven's glory to die for us on Calvary. Every time we give, we give fresh evidence of our desire to be like Christ.

"How we use our money demonstrates the reality of our love for God," wrote Charles Ryrie. "In some ways, it proves our love more conclusively than depth of knowledge, length of prayers or prominence of service. These things can be feigned, but the use of our possessions shows us up for what we
actually are."

As you consider the past few months, and as you look to those which lie ahead, is your life typified by an emphasis on giving or receiving? As you consider your response, remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."


July 2010                                                                                                                         

In His sovereignty and wisdom, Almighty God has ordained two primary ways for people to obtain money and material possessions. The first way is a "four-letter" word that may not appeal to everyone. God expects us to "work" for what we need. As we have seen previously, sometimes work comes to us disguised as a great burden, but in reality, the ability to work is one of life's great blessings.

The second primary way for us to obtain the money and material possessions we need is to ask God for them. As He did with Solomon when he succeeded his father David as King over Israel, God is saying to us, "Ask what I should give you."

The fourth chapter of the book of James tells us that there are two reasons our needs go unmet. Either we do not ask God, or when we do ask, we ask with wrong motives. Instead of using God's provisions to glorify Him, we want to use them to satisfy our selfish desires.

Think of it in this way: God has a warehouse full of blessings that He wants to shower upon us, but He cannot do so because either we fail to ask or we ask for the wrong reasons. In either case, we do not receive His full measure of blessing and provision.

Chuck Swindoll wrote, "In my opinion, the words 'You do not have because you do not ask' are among the most convicting words we will ever read.  Persistence must characterize our prayers. . . .There is no place for reluctance or timidity or, for that matter, uncertainty. Do you have a need?
Then do the simple thing and the best thing first: Ask in simple faith."

Faith is taking God at His Word. Faith is believing that God exists and that He hears and answers prayer. Nothing more. Nothing less. Faith is claiming the promises of God from the Word of God. Faith is following the direction of the Holy Spirit as we pray God's promises back to Him with the
expectation that He will answer and provide.

Faith is what motivated the elderly cab driver in New York City to give this as his creed: "Believe all that God has said; obey all that God has commanded; expect all that God has promised." Or as Augustine wrote centuries before, "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of
this faith is to see what we believe."

The Lord Jesus asked this penetrating question, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?"

The key to getting our needs met is not talking about our needs. It is not telling our friends and family. It is not even making a prayer list. It is simply asking God, according to His will, to supply what is needed. Or as an unnamed poet wrote, "We can ask, believe and receive, or we can talk, doubt,
and do without."

On one occasion, a nobleman asked Alexander the Great for some financial aid. Alexander told him to go to the treasurer and ask for whatever amount he wanted. A little later, the treasurer appeared and nervously told Alexander about the enormous sum for which the man had asked. "Give him what
he asks for," replied Alexander. "He has treated me like a king in his asking, and I shall be like a king in my giving."

Someone wrote,

You are coming to a King,
Large petitions with you bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.

What do you want God to do for you? Will you take Him at His Word today and
trust Him by asking?

June 2010                                                                                                                         

A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless may be true. The Christian life is replete with many aspects that may best be described as paradoxical. For example, when we are "weak" and depending on Christ, then we are "strong." When we humble ourselves as little children,
then we become "great" in the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul described the overall paradox of our faith in First Corinthians chapter one, where he said, " . . . God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." Whereas from a human perspective, we would normally choose those with wisdom, or might, or social standing, God says He frequently does just the opposite to demonstrate His power so that no one will be able to boast in His presence.

Another paradox through which God demonstrates His power has to do with money. God said through the prophet Malachi, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test . . . see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing."

On the surface, from a purely human perspective, this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. That we should give tithes to the Lord is something that from our viewpoint may appear arbitrary and downright unreasonable. Why should we give something that we have worked for, that we have earned, and that we need to a God we cannot see? And even if we should find some reason to do so, why a "tithe"? Why not just a small offering now and then?

The answers to those questions all can be found in our basic premise that was expressed by King David in Psalm 24:1 - "The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." God has never relinquished His title deed to the world. He owns it all. We are just managers and stewards of what He has entrusted to us. He gives us the ability to earn what is rightfully His in the first place, and then He provides a blessing to us as we return it to Him in tithes and offerings.

And as we do so, He is able to demonstrate His power in our lives in at least two ways. First, He causes what remains to be adequate for our needs.  And second, He provides supernaturally through a variety of sources "abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine."

So, this morning, as you consider what you will return to the Lord here at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, you have a choice. You can operate from a purely human perspective, saying to yourself that giving to God (especially tithes) makes no sense. Or you can take God at His Word in what might at first glance appear to be a paradox. You can then experience the full truth of God's admonition through Malachi the prophet as you "test" God in your giving.

As you determine which of those alternatives you will choose, remember this: Money is the only subject about which God challenges us to "test" Him. He never gives that invitation concerning prayer, Bible reading, salvation, or anything else. Just money. This morning, just as He did to Malachi, God is saying, in essence, "Bring the tithes into My storehouse. Prove Me. Test Me.  Trust Me. And see what I will do for you!"