- v1-4: To be willing to give to the church. The 'church' includes not only our brothers and sisters and Christ, but also the community, people in need.
- v5-9: We can make plans, but God makes the final decision. We should entrust our plans to God.
- v10-11: To encourage and help young leaders to grow (the example in this passage is Timothy)
We should be willing to give voluntarily and with a cheerful heart; not doing it merely due to feeling obliged or with complaints.
2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that God will give enough to us to be able to give and help other people.
In Malachi 3:10, God promises us blessings if we bring our tithing to the church.
But remember to not give because we want the blessings, but believe that all our good deeds have eternal value and we will surely gain blessings in heaven.
How should we do it?
Consider putting aside some savings in advance, maybe in the beginning of every week (or every paycheck), for a few reasons:
- To be disciplined
- To not give the "leftover" after we use our income
- Enable us to save more
- To avoid procrastinating
In Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus tells us that God blesses people who help those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, need clothings, sick, and in prison.
We should be glad to help anybody in need, either monetarily (by giving monetary donations), physically (by lending a helping hand), spiritually or emotionally (by counseling).
The next time you are in doubt about giving back to God, remember that everything that we own is from God and owned by God. We are God's steward on earth; God trusts us to manage the resources that we have been given. Don't hold on to what you own just at the moment because God might be preparing bigger things for you. As Matthew 25:21 says:
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
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