To Give or Not To Give...

These verses are written about building the Temple in the Wilderness and it happens After the children were disobedient and broke off their ear rings and made the molten calf to worship as their god. All of that gold was ground to powder and scattered upon the water, and the Bible says Moses then made them drink the water.

Now chapters and who knows how much time later, the children are called to bring their offerings to build the house of God. These were all the things from the spoil of Egypt. Some chose to squander it on their own lusts and make themselves an image of idolitry. Others kept it, and now had the opportunity to use it for the house of the Lord God.

How many who broke off their earrings for the golden calf were now unable to give to the house of God? How many had regret and remorse at their 20/20 hindsight now realizing they could have no part in the monetary giving?

Application:

We have the spoils of Egypt too. God- the same God that brought Israel out of Egypt- brings us out of this world and gives us blessings in abundance.

Then we have a choice.

Do we build His house, or squander it on idols and the lusts in our life?

Do we tithe or buy the new dress?

Ok, make it a little more like the situation for some people....

Do we tithe and truly put ourselves in a position of faith because now we seriously don't even have sufficient money for groceries?

Wow. That might look a lot like FaiTH!!

Let's put it in terms that are more likely the case for most of us in the good 'ol USA.

Do we tithe and not get the acrylic nails, cappuccinos, flip flops in every color, 1/2k diamond earrings, hilights, lowlights, theater tickets, chrome rims, ....... You get my point.

OK, say you are tithing. I think the statistic is 10% of Bible believing Christians tithe, so to you.

I think a good question is, should God ask you to give to His kingdom up and above, could you if your heart was willing? Have you increased your living standard to your level of income, and now couldn't give more because of Master Card and Sallie Mae? A quote that has stuck with me and haunted me more than a few times...

"God does not prosper you in order to increase your standard of living, but to increase your standard of giving."

Do we even begin to understand what it means to live in light of Eternity??