Reconciliation
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
Loving is more important than giving. We should excel in loving first, as we should only be giving motivated by love. The Bible even says, "Stop giving! until we have made things right in our relationships.
Love is more important than giving. First Corinthians 13:3 says, "If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." No gift can substitutes for God's kind of love. Giving may be an expression of love, but this is not always the cause. People give for all kinds of wrong reasons.
Loving is more important than giving. We should excel in loving first, as we should only be giving motivated by love. The Bible even says, "Stop giving! until we have made things right in our relationships.
Love is more important than giving. First Corinthians 13:3 says, "If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." No gift can substitutes for God's kind of love. Giving may be an expression of love, but this is not always the cause. People give for all kinds of wrong reasons.
If someone gives a large amount to the church in order to have control over what happens there, a dangerous situation is developing. In the business world, there is no free lunch; all giving is a ploy to win power over the client. It needs to be very different in the Lord. Whether you give little or much, the Bible says in Matthew should ever be attached. They come from the evil one. If your motive for giving is to acquire power, that is wrong.
Another wrong motive, pride, was exercised by the Pharisees when they gave. I have used my own giving as an example in this series primarily because I know it best. It has been with soul-searching and some hesitation that I have done so, making sure that my motivation is not filled with pride. I really do believe in giving secretly. Let us examine our motive when we give. is it pure, or are huge pride problem, which led to lying about how much they gave. Do not follow their example!
Maintaining right relationships is more important than giving. In Matthew 5:23, 24 it says, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." This one is so important, that God says, "Stop!" Stop right in the middle of the act of giving.
There is something He does not say. He does not say, "Do not give." He wants you to give the whole amount. However, you may need to delay that gift until your relationship with that other person is restored. Nothing destroys churches faster than broken relationships. It does not matter whether it is your fault or it is his/her fault, or it is just a misunderstanding. The Bible says that you are to go; do not wait for others to come to you. It also implies urgency: run, do not walk, to the one with whom you have a broken relationship, and make it right. Do not give any offering. Do not continue in worship. Do not offer up any prayers. If you have anything that is separating you from someone else, now - NOW! - is the time to make it right. So if you fit this category, go find that person right now. Get up out of your seat and go, even if you have to travel many miles.
Examine yourself to make sure you are giving for the right reasons and not for reasons of power or pride. Examine your relationships. They are so important. Make sure they are right, and that you have a clear conscience with regard to everyone.
Another wrong motive, pride, was exercised by the Pharisees when they gave. I have used my own giving as an example in this series primarily because I know it best. It has been with soul-searching and some hesitation that I have done so, making sure that my motivation is not filled with pride. I really do believe in giving secretly. Let us examine our motive when we give. is it pure, or are huge pride problem, which led to lying about how much they gave. Do not follow their example!
Maintaining right relationships is more important than giving. In Matthew 5:23, 24 it says, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." This one is so important, that God says, "Stop!" Stop right in the middle of the act of giving.
There is something He does not say. He does not say, "Do not give." He wants you to give the whole amount. However, you may need to delay that gift until your relationship with that other person is restored. Nothing destroys churches faster than broken relationships. It does not matter whether it is your fault or it is his/her fault, or it is just a misunderstanding. The Bible says that you are to go; do not wait for others to come to you. It also implies urgency: run, do not walk, to the one with whom you have a broken relationship, and make it right. Do not give any offering. Do not continue in worship. Do not offer up any prayers. If you have anything that is separating you from someone else, now - NOW! - is the time to make it right. So if you fit this category, go find that person right now. Get up out of your seat and go, even if you have to travel many miles.
Examine yourself to make sure you are giving for the right reasons and not for reasons of power or pride. Examine your relationships. They are so important. Make sure they are right, and that you have a clear conscience with regard to everyone.
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