Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Tithe – Giving from the heart.

    Bible Portion: 1 Chronicles 29 :10-18

Key Verse: “ But Who am I , and who are my people  that we should be able to give as generously as this ?.Everything comes from you and  we have given you  only what comes from your hand “.Vs 14
                                        
Devotion
Tithe is the practice of giving ten percent of one’s earnings, possessions and produce to God.  Tithe started in the Old Testament period, and we see in Genesis 14 and 28 where Abraham and Jacob offer their tithes to God. Leviticus 27 :30 says “a tithe of everything from the land whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees belongs to the God. In New Testament Jesus teaches the Pharisees and leaders of the Jewish religion about the important things in life like extending justice, mercy and truth to all along with tithing their wealth to God. We are blessed with everything we need, and God wants to give back a portion to God and His work from a thankful heart of gratitude.
               2 Corinthians 9:6-7 reads” whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will reap generously.”. each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”. The willingness to give generously reflects the joy from the bottom of the heart as a symbol of gratitude and thankfulness. God has challenged us through prophet Malachi. Malachi 3 :10 reads “test me in this, says the Lord almighty and see if I will not throw open  the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it “’
In today’s devotion we see King David offering a prayer of thanksgiving as he and the people of Israel contribute generously towards the building of the temple. David trusts in God completely and recognize the omnipotent God and His sovereignty over all the creation. David wholeheartedly from a heart of gratitude exhorts his men to give generously to God. A willing heart highlights the importance of tithing with a honest intent. God always recognizes a cheerful giver as we see in the widow who casts 2 copper coins in to the offertory box, That was all her wealth and means of livelihood and she was ready to part with it out of her poverty for the glory of God.
Let us examine ourselves, our heart, our love for God, our willingness to help the needy and acknowledge that it is God that gives us all what we have and nothing in this world belongs to us.
                                                           Prayer:
Let us come to the throne of grace with a heart of gratitude and acknowledge that everything we enjoy comes from our Lord who is the author and finisher of our faith. May our tithes and offerings be a pleasing act of worship. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.
                                                    Thought for the day
                                            God loves a cheerful giver.
                                                     Dr Thomas K. Jose
                                            The Mar Thoma Church Staten island 

                                      Christian Education Forum
                                       Diocese of North America
                                       of the Mar Thoma Church

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