TEXT: NEHEMIAH 7:70-73
Key verse: “And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments” (Nehemiah 7:72).
Bountiful giving is usually borne out of love - he who loves much, gives much. Absolute love gives absolutely. God loved the world and gave His only begotten Son. Jesus, the Son, loved all to the extent of surrendering His life as a ransom for ALL. Those who receive Christ ought to surrender their all, as a voluntary, yet mandatory and reciprocal gesture.
The text is an account of the prodigious offerings rendered towards the work of God. The Tirshatha (governor of Israel), the chief fathers and the entire people all contributed bountifully. The Tirshatha gave the equivalence of $5,280 apart from 50 gold basons and 530 garments for the priests. The chief fathers provided $246,400, while the generality of the people gave the equivalence of $233,500. It was consequent upon this generous giving that the priest, Levites, porters, singers, Nethmims (temple servants) were able to return to their cities. They gave so that God’s servants would be provided the leverage to perform their duties without let or hindrance.
Whatever we offer God can never equal what God first gave us. Jesus, God’s free gift, has opened the floodgates of blessings to ALL. Consequently, we ought to give back to God, without measure. Our giving must not be acknowledged in terms of its magnitude. It can only be meaningful when it is done sacrificially.
The way to commence and cultivate the art of giving is by first surrendering our heart (Proverbs 23:26). That done, we will not count any gift too high or big to give to God. Secondly, we lay our all on the altar and be prepared to offer both tangible and intangible gifts without conditions attached. Our guiding principle in life must be to do all things to His glory. And as we do all this, God promises great reward in time and eternity for the faithful.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “He which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully”.
Key verse: “And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments” (Nehemiah 7:72).
Bountiful giving is usually borne out of love - he who loves much, gives much. Absolute love gives absolutely. God loved the world and gave His only begotten Son. Jesus, the Son, loved all to the extent of surrendering His life as a ransom for ALL. Those who receive Christ ought to surrender their all, as a voluntary, yet mandatory and reciprocal gesture.
The text is an account of the prodigious offerings rendered towards the work of God. The Tirshatha (governor of Israel), the chief fathers and the entire people all contributed bountifully. The Tirshatha gave the equivalence of $5,280 apart from 50 gold basons and 530 garments for the priests. The chief fathers provided $246,400, while the generality of the people gave the equivalence of $233,500. It was consequent upon this generous giving that the priest, Levites, porters, singers, Nethmims (temple servants) were able to return to their cities. They gave so that God’s servants would be provided the leverage to perform their duties without let or hindrance.
Whatever we offer God can never equal what God first gave us. Jesus, God’s free gift, has opened the floodgates of blessings to ALL. Consequently, we ought to give back to God, without measure. Our giving must not be acknowledged in terms of its magnitude. It can only be meaningful when it is done sacrificially.
The way to commence and cultivate the art of giving is by first surrendering our heart (Proverbs 23:26). That done, we will not count any gift too high or big to give to God. Secondly, we lay our all on the altar and be prepared to offer both tangible and intangible gifts without conditions attached. Our guiding principle in life must be to do all things to His glory. And as we do all this, God promises great reward in time and eternity for the faithful.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “He which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully”.
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