Post by Mark on Sept 2, 2009 4:13:14 GMT -8
The management of our offerings to God is something that is difficult for us to grab onto as a thing of personal worship. It is either relegated to a routine operation (like paying a bill), a hurried obligation (struggling to find change before the offering plate passes), or it is neglected altogether.
Generally, the emphasis from the religious organization is not so much about increasing the spiritual significance of giving so much as it is about increasing the giving. The thought process, though selfishly motivated it may be, is to stress the principle of sowing and reaping (Matthew 13 and 19): that the more you put in will directly correspond with the amount you will receive in return. Unfortunately, this is still the product of Western individualistic thinking. Paul reminds us that though one may sow, another may reap (1st Corinthians 3).
In Deuteronomy 26:2, careful detail describes the manner in which the firstruits are handled. They are not gathered in together with the whole harvest. They are gathered before, in a basket, the choicest fruit as it is found on the vine, and gathered to be taken for the Temple.
The manner in which giving back to Adonai for His abundance has been so trivialized is
. Consider how we may adjust our focus, as we prepare the festivals of giving, how we may offer to Him the very, very best of that with which He has blessed us.
