Learn to Revere God
Deuteronomy 14:22-23
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields
produce each year.
23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and
the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence
of the LORD your God at the place He will choose
as a dwelling for His Name,
so that you may learn to revere
the LORD your God always.
One of the things mature Christians learn over the course of their lives is how to honor God in practical ways. You see it’s
one thing to just say, “I love God,” or “I worship God,” or things similar to that. But, let’s admit it, its not always clear or easy as to how we show that with our lives. Talking the talk of Christianity is one thing, walking the walk is another. So what can we do to show with our lives how we feel toward God?
In the Old Testament, God gives us something helpful for this. In Deuteronomy, Chapter 14, God gives some very detailed instructions on giving. If we read through too fast, we’d think this was just like the IRS tax code for ancient Israel. But, when you stop to read it, you see that God says that all these instructions are so that they can learn to revere the Lord their God always. God is teaching us here that giving is a tangible way that we show honor and devotion to God.
In our lives, we are tempted to think that our generosity is just about the ministry or cause or people we give to. We can also be tempted to think our generosity has nothing to do with our faith in God. But, God helps us to lift our eyes heavenward when we give.
Giving to God’s causes – like your church or a God-honoring ministry that blesses you – is you parting with your earthly treasure so that God’s will would be done. In so doing, you are saying, “God, Your will is more important than my treasure – and it is really Your treasure that You have given me to manage for You, anyway.” As you pursue your generous life, you also are learning day by day to revere God.
Today’s Generosity Challenge:
Reflect today on how you have learned to revere God though this journey of generosity. Write down what you have learned about the character of God through this journey here at http://GenerousLife.net/Day34.
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