NOV 27

1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Memorise 2 Corinthians 9:6
"...and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

God has bought us with the life of His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ. Thus, to glorify God in your body and your spirit is to be ever ready to give. We should give as often as we can. It reminds us that we belong to God and it glorifies Him.

As the purpose of tithes is to provide for the local church, giving of our tithes should be regular, planned, and not haphazard. Whilst it may be more convenient to give once a month or fortnightly, setting aside a portion weekly reminds us to be thankful to our Heavenly Father, and that we do not come to worship Him on Sunday empty-handed. That was the pattern set for us in the early church, as Paul gave instruction to the church at Corinth to make a collection on the first day of the week – the Lord’s Day. They were to make such a regular collection in accordance to how God had prospered them. They were to do so cheerfully, and not grudgingly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). This was part of their worship and service to God, for in so giving they were helping the needy Christians in Jerusalem, and encouraged them through their generosity.

Regular tithing takes discipline and preparation. Sometimes, you may realise that you do not have enough at the last minute. You may casually think to yourself ‘Oh well, I’ll make it up next week’. However, this shows a lack of reverence for God. We do not seem to care that we have forgotten to prepare a gift for God, and yet, we impatiently expect God to provide for our every need and want. When you start working, can you imagine if your employer sometimes forgets to pay you or is late in payment?

However, this does not mean offerings cannot be spontaneous when a need or opportunity arises. The basic idea is that we must regularly give to God, and to give cheerfully when required as an expression of our praise and thanksgiving to Him.

Thought: Do you include tithin as part of your budget?
Prayer: Lord, may I be faithful and regular with my tithes and offerings.