TUESDAY August 8, 2017
Offerings Filling Storerooms
…to bring the first fruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oils, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. - Nehemiah 10:37
As the people obediently brought into storerooms the best of their breads, fruits, wines and oils the necessities of the priests were provided. The Levites were able to live from all these tithes and offerings.
The Apostle Paul often collected offerings to help with the churches’ necessities in Jerusalem: And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:3). Then Paul became the recipient of financial support from the churches of Macedonia:
…that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receivethe gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints (2 Corinthians 8:2-4).
Paul was a man of great financial integrity. He was a tentmaker by trade (Acts 18:2-3). In Acts 20:33-35, Paul told the elders of the Church:
“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak…”
It is important that the tithes be brought into the house of God so that the ministry can be provided for, and the Church can continue to spread the truth of the Gospel to other communities.
“…And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
~Acts 20:35~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
