INSPIRED GIVING - Herschel H. Hobbs

This is a story that is one of Herschel Hobbs favorite illustrations.  I hope you enjoy it!

A pastor wrote the president of a seminary to inform him about a man in his church who was capable of giving the school $50,000. The president invited the man to visit the campus. After showing his guest around the campus, relating what the seminary was doing, and feeding him a sumptuous meal, the president took the man to his office to attempt to sell the man on the idea of giving a donation.



On the way they met a professor of preaching who was a personal friend of the potential donor. After a brief chat the man asked the professor what he would do if he was able to make a gift to the seminary. The professor said he would give $500,000 to endow a chair of preaching.


The president cringed, fearing the professor had ruined everything he had been trying to do. He was right! The man did not donate $50,000. Instead, he gave the seminary $500,000. He had been inspired to give.

• Q: Have you ever been inspired to give like that? 

Maybe not that amount, but inspired nonetheless!  Friend, be inspired to give back to God from all that God has given you!  Start with your local church first, then as God enables, support other Biblical, evangelical ministries!  Not just money, but give of your time too!

That's all for now, but check back for more REDD-INK!

Why Should I Be A Good Steward...of Creation?

Since we are God’s stewards over His creation, what should be our motivation?

Q: Are we good stewards for pragmatic reasons or for moral reasons?

A1: The pragmatic view would suggest that we should be good stewards over God’s world because our survival depends on it. For example, if we start killing snakes to the point of extinction, we could cause an overpopulation of rats and other vermin that snakes have as their normal diet. 

A2: The moral view would suggest that we should exercise good stewardship over the physical world because to do so demonstrates honor and respect for God and His created order.

The Bible endorses A2  for good stewardship.  Having God’s perspective, we would not destroy snakes to the point of extinction, but we exercise discernment in protection of ourselves and our families from the danger that some snakes impose. Francis Schaeffer said, 'We show honor to the physical world with which God has a covenant relationship. Christians should exercise God-given wisdom as we exercise dominion over His created world.'
Whether money or life, we are to be good stewards because it honors God.  I've seen Him bless such obedience.

That's all for now, but check back soon for more REDD-INK!

Lead Others In Worship Through Giving - 1Chronicles 29:1-6

According to this passage, the Chronicler explains how David exhorted the assembly to follow his example of stewardship.  Verse 6 states plainly that the leaders of the tribes of Israel followed David's inspiring leadership.  Verse 9 relates that the people rejoiced when they saw their leaders give willingly and liberally. 

So, how is the giving going in your church?  Has the 'economy' impacted your personal ability to give?  I pray that God will miraculously bless us with jobs, crops, etc. in order that we might have the joy of leading others in worship through giving back to Him!  David led Israel in worship, praising God for His greatness and acknowledging that the gifts came from the Lord Himself.

We don't know what others give, but just seeing folks put something in the offering plate encourages me to worship in like fashion.  (They usually have a smile on their faces too!)  :)

That's all for now, but visit again soon for more REDD-INK!
 

To Tithe or Not to Tithe - Matt 23:23

There was a time when I thought the teachings of the New Testament included a freedom from tithing, that is, under grace, Christians were not required to give a tenth or 10% of their increase to God through the local church.  I have friends that hold to this and we just agree to disagree and continue to have sweet fellowship.  I do feel that I should explain my position.  It's really basic and simple.  I wanted to see if Jesus had anything to say about tithing and if He did, what it was and how I might apply it.

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 23 and verse 23, in the middle of the 'Woes' to the Pharisees we see the following: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
The New King James Version. 1982 (Mt 23:23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Many times I've read through this passage and concentrated on the negative of tithing legalistically.  To do justice to God's Word, in fact, Jesus' own words here, we must look at the full context.  Do you see the last part of the verse?  "These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."  Jesus never said, "Thou shalt no longer tithe."  In fact, He really endorses tithing by stating in effect, "you should have not only tithed of these herbs, but also you should have not neglected weightier matters."

  > I respect counter views to mine, and would never make less of God's amazing grace and the freedom we have been given in Christ. 

  > I have been blessed by giving a tithe off of my gross and gladly share that as a testimony of His grace!

Well, that's all for now! Check back later for more REDD-INK!
 

Excuses for NOT Giving

Have you ever heard, or maybe you yourself have said, "I'll wait until I have more money before I tithe or give an offering to church."  They look at their checkbook and decide they barely have enough to live on so how could they make it through the month if they gave away 10% of what they make!

I remember Herschel Hobbs relating a story of a guy who was known for his generosity.  The man was asked how he became such a big giver.  He replied, “By tithing my first week’s salary of $2.50.” Then Hershal said, "Few people learn to tithe the much if first they have not learned to tithe the little."

Don't fool yourself.  If you are not willing to give 10% or more to God from what you  make now, it is very unlikely that you will give 10% of a larger amount later in life.  Such a person has no idea what they are forfeiting by holding on to that tenth.  Oh how blessed it is to give God the first 10%!

• How much more would you need to increase your offering to get to 10%?
• Would you pray and ask God to show you and help you learn to tithe?

That's all for now, but check back soon for more REDD-INK!

Giving Enriches Us - 2Corinthians 9:10-11

  
The American Dream may involve a number of accomplishments, but there is one that usually makes everyone's list:  "To become really rich."  Do you want to be really rich?  I'm talking about 'rich' in the fullest sense of the word!  If so, then you should start giving!  What?  You may think that's not logical, or a paradox at the least.  According to our passage, the Bible says to be truly rich you must be a giver, sharing joyously what God has given you.  (vs. 11) "You are enriched in every way for all generosity."  Smart farmers would not sell all of their harvest.  They would set back a portion of their crop as seed for the next season thus helping to enrich their household for the future.

When you give more, you create the possibility of gaining more.  What are these 'gains'?  Here are few for your consideration:  more personal satisfaction / knowing that for once you thought about somebody else's needs and not just your own / a greater sense of fulfillment / a deeper sense of belonging in the body of Christ.

• How does your life change when you give to the needs of other Christians at your church?

• What are some 'non-financial' ways you can give to the needs of other Christians?

That's all for now check back soon for more Redd Ink.  <)))><

Giving Comes From What God Has Given to Us - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10

We can give to others because God has already given to us.  For the Christian, giving is simply sharing with others what God has given to us.  God does not expect us to give what we don't have!  God does want us to live in such a way that we can always have something to give others around us.  We know this because verse 8 states God wants us to have "everything we need" and He wants us to "excel in every good work" that is, to use all our God-given resources, including money, to help accomplish God's kingdom purposes in the lives of others!  Paul goes on to say that God will "provide and multiply" the resources of the Corinthians so they could accomplish all God desired for them.  The good news for us today is, GOD NEVER CHANGES!  It is still His desire to accomplish these things in the world today through His children.

Don't view your paycheck just as wages from your employer.  See it as a gift from God!  Good stewardship mandates that you pay your bills from these wages, but also to set some aside for the future as well as to have some to give to the poor and needy among us. (verse 9)  When many Christians work together to give from what God has given them, it strongly resembles a concept called 'UNITY' and God blesses unity!  That is a big part of seeing God accomplish great things through local churches.  Maybe you've heard about the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention?  Do some research and see for yourself what God has done when Christians give from what God has given to them!

• What is a practical way to show your family the truth that all we have comes from God?
• How have you given to God's kingdom?
• If you haven't given, how can you start giving to His kingdom?

That's all for now, but check back soon for more REDD-INK!