Thursday November 6, 2008 ALL THE WAY
"How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law - justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel!" Matthew 23:23-24 Legalism causes more spiritual damage than we can imagine - unless you've been there done that! For people who were raised in homes where cursing, drinking, and fighting did not prevail it is easy to fall into legalism. On the other hand, when people who were raised in such environments become Christians it is easy for them to fall into legalism as well. What makes people do that? The need for acceptance - plan and simple. However, if you talk to anyone who has come out from under the yoke of legalism you will hear them share about just how miserable they were. God rewards obedience, we all know that. However, when our giving simply becomes a task to be checked off on a "to do" list, it is no longer an act of worship. It is much easier for some people to give money than to give something from deep within them. It is easier to give money than give love. If I get the gist of what Jesus was teaching in this passage, the law was set up in order to show justice, mercy, and faith in God. It takes faith to forgive someone for an injustice. Therefore, when we operate under the law of mercy we will forgive people as an act of worship toward God and that takes an extreme amount of faith. Some people tithe because of the prestige it brings them - the more money they give - the better chance they have to become deacons or leaders in the church. They are not giving because they love the Lord; they are giving because they want to receive something. I don't think that pleases the Lord. As a result, they end up being elevated and puffed up and lumpy like a camel. I've been there done that too! There was a time when I sat and wrote out my tithe check just like I would write out a check for my bills; although there was some emotion involved because the balance was less, it wasn't an emotion of love for my Father. We must be very careful that when we walk in obedience it is an act of loving obedience - not legalism. God wants our lives to be balanced. It is wonderful to tithe our monies, but God wants us to also tithe our love and our time - in love! Father, I am so thankful that Your grace and mercy cover my many shortcomings in the areas of tithing and love. Help me to be a better steward of all that You give me, whether that is money or love. I want to please You first and foremost. Then, I want to live a love walk that helps people see past me straight to You. Help me be more balanced in these areas. ******************************************* O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] window live messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
