^{Being G-d’s Talmidim}

Being Messiah’s Talmid (Disciple), counting the cost

What does G-d require of a Disciple:

Giving of:

Time,

Talent,

Treasure

Heart.

Treasure – Monetary or goods for the kingdom.

Matthew 6

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. ²⁰ Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. ²¹ For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also. ²² ‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ So if you have a ‘good eye’ [that is, if you are generous] your whole body will be full of light; ²³ but if you have an ‘evil eye’ [if you are stingy] your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.

 

We do not teach a legalistic Tithe, for that was to support the Levites, but we do teach that G-d expects His people to support the Ministry.  In Genesis we see Abraham gives 10% of all his gain to Mekel – Tzedak (Righteous King).

 

In Mal 3, we see G-d say

8  Can a person rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tenths and voluntary contributions.  9  A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me.  10  Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test, ”says ADONAI–Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.

 

An amazing fact:  Those who make the least, give the most!

 

Didn’t the widow give 2 coins?  It was all she had!

 

G-d makes it clear through temple taxes, Census Tax, and Redemption, that all give some.

 

It is with a thankful heart that G-d wants us to give.

 

Guidelines for Giving:

     If you’re a member or regular here, this is where your giving should go.

     If you attend 2 Congregations, supporting both would be best.  Amount of each is between you and G-d.

     External Ministries, should always fall beyond normal giving, not in place of supporting your regular assembly.

     Is 10% Mandatory?

     All should give some, even if it is only 1 dollar.

     Give out of Love & Thankfulness

     Trust G-d

 Don’ts

     Don’t give grudgingly

     Don’t use giving as a weapon, or to get what you want

     Be faithful and consistent.

     Don’t divert regular giving to “special offerings”, those are sacrifical and are to be above and beyond.

 

If you’re not giving now, start with something, G-d promises to bless you. 

 

You trust G-d to save you, you should trust Him to keep His promise.

Heart – Without Love, Works are without value.

Heart - The Pharisee did all that we spoke of above, yet most missed the Messiah.  What was missing?

Doing all the above, without Loving G-d for who he is, will not work.   We need to first of all make sure we have established that Trust relationship with him.

Yeshua said the greatest commandment was to “Love G-d with all your heart, mind, soul & strength” & to Love your neighbor as yourself.

Many today fall into 2 extreme camps: Love only, and Commandments only!  The truth is they both are important to G-d.  For we know “Faith without works is dead faith”.  We also know Works without Love is of no value and is “burnt up as hay wood & stubble”

 

What G-d wants is a disciple that produces good works, out of Love!