Thought for Meditation

When we give unto the Lord and for the Lord's work --
The Lord our God is not pleased when we give the "leftovers" of our increase.
Rather, He is pleased when we honor Him with the "firstfruits" of all our increase.
The Lord our God is not interested in the amount of our giving.
Rather, He is interested in the percentage of our giving.
The Lord our God does not consider the size of our giving.
Rather, He considers the motive of our giving, 
whether it is out of sacrificial love or for selfish show.

Weekly Sermon

In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 the apostle Paul revealed the foundational principle for stewardship, syaing, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

In its immediate context, the apostle was speaking concerning himself and those who served with him as ministers of God’s truth for Christ’s sake.  He revealed that such ministers are stewards of the truth of God’s Word, responsible to minister gospel truth unto the lost and edification truth unto the saved.  Then the apostle revealed God’s foundational principle for stewardship, saying, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”  Brethren, in stewardship from the Lord our God, faithfulness is required.

Now, although the immediate context of this passage concerns ministers of God’s truth, it is important for us to understand that the foundational principle for stewardship in verse 2 has an application to each and every one of us as the servants of the Lord our God.  Whether or not we have been called as minister of God’s truth, as our Lord’s servants we all have been given some stewardship from the Lord.  Therefore, the foundational principle of stewardship stands for us all – Faithfulness is required.

Proverbs for Life

The book of the Proverbs has much to say concerning the rich and the poor of this world.  Within this category of truths, it provides spiritual wisdom and warning concerning our right treatment of the poor and needy around us.

The Selfish Neglect of the Poor
The Unrighteous Oppression against the Poor
The Righteous Mercy for the Poor

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to a series of previous posts:  The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 1) 
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 2)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 3)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 4)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 5)

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life.  In the book of the Proverbs, the actual compilation of proverbial statements begins with chapter 10 and extends to the end of the book.  In the following series of posts, I wish to present those proverbial statements that specifically mention our relationship with the Lord.  Certainly, every proverb of God’s Holy Word concerns our relationship with the Lord our God; for every proverb concerns the character of our walk before Him.  Yet the following list of proverbial statements make specific mention of the Lord and of our relationship to Him.  In the first five parts of this study (see above), we considered passages from Proverbs 10-21.  In this part of the study, we shall consider passages from Proverbs 22-24. 

Outlines in Psalms

This is a companion outline to two previous outlines:  
    Fret Not Thyself Because of Evildoers – Psalm 37:1-2, 7-10
    Trust in the Lord, and Do Good – Psalm 37:3-8, 27, 34
    But the Salvation of the Righteous is of the LORD – Psalm 37

The purpose of Psalm 37 is to exhort and encourage God’s faithful servants concerning the prosperity of the wicked, which certainly appears at first to be an unfair and unrighteous reality of this life.  Indeed, it can be a great frustration unto the hearts of the faithful to see “the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree” (Psalm 37:35).  In fact, if we dwell on this frustration, it can easily and quickly turn us back from our walk with the Lord and lead us down into the pit of sinful iniquity (See Psalm 73:2-3).  So then, how does Psalm 37 exhort us and encourage us concerning this matter?  In three previous outlines (see above), we considered the prohibition concerning our attitude at the prosperity of the wicked, the proclamation concerning the judgment of the Lord against the wicked, the precept concerning our walk with the Lord, and the promise concerning the favor of the Lord upon the righteous.  In this outline we shall consider the practice of the wicked and of the righteous and the principle concerning righteousness’ being the better way.

Thought for Meditation
(And a little bit of politics)

LIBERALITY
(A characteristic of godliness)

You yourself willingly taking what is yours out of your own pocket,
and giving it to the needy (usually in some manner of selfless generosity).

LIBERALISM
(A philosophy of government)

The government forcibly taking what is yours out of your pocket,
and giving it to the needy (often after skimming some selfishly for themselves).


Proverbs 11:24-25
"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth;
and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
 
2 Corinthians 8:2-5
"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God
bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction
the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift,
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord,
and unto us by the will of God."

2 Corinthians 9:7-15
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;
that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor:
his righteousness remaineth for ever. 
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food,
and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness,
which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints,
but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
whiles by the experiment of this ministration
they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ,
and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."