Saturday Sermonette - Giving

Ten Percent? Isn't that an old testament directive and now we don't have to abide by it?

Well, not exactly. Once when Jesus was berating the Pharisees, He said, "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."

There were times in my past when I didn't give ten percent. I figured I couldn't give that much and still pay for electricity, groceries, and gas. Thinking back, there were other things I could pretty easily have done without (snacks I definitely didn't need, for instance). But my discretionary money was pretty scarce.

Now that times are better, I'm trying to make up for that.

But money isn't all God asks. He asks for our lives, too. Not ten percent--one hundred percent. Wow, isn't that asking too much? No. Think about it. When you go to work, your employer expects one hundred percent. He (or she) wants you go give your best effort to the job every day; more--he (or she) asks you to remember when you are off work that what you do reflects on your employer.

That's true of God, too. He wants us to be good representatives of Him all the time. Yesterday when you didn't swear at that idiot driver, didn't you represent Him then?

Did you pray for the one you know who just lost a spouse or child? Did you help your neighbor out when he was sick? Did you greet your family members with a smile and a hug?

All of these bring smiles to God's face. I love doing that, don't you?