ROBBING GOD DOESN’T PAY

            One said to a minister who preached a sermon, after which there was to be a collection, "You should preach to our hearts, and then you would get some money."  The minister replied, "Yes, I think that is very likely, for that is where you keep your money." -Spurgeon

Malachi 3:8, Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

            When this topic of tithes and offerings comes up, we must approach it in a way that is honoring and glorifying to our Saviour. You see the Lord wants us to be cheerful givers. He doesn’t want us to be thinking about the new fishing rod or pair of shoes we could have bought with the money we just put into the offering plate. He wants us to, by faith, give unto the Lord. He wants us to be glad to give to the cause of Christ. He wants us to trust Him and give, not out of abundance but what He asks for.

            Child of God, at the minimum, the Lord asks for ten percent of our gross income. Income is anything that increases your financial wealth. Stimulus checks, a bonus at work, a tip for helping someone change a flat tire, are just some of the ways our financial wealth increases. He then may move upon you to give more. If He does, obey Him. Whatever the Lord has asked of you, trust Him with what He has impressed upon your heart to give. You will be blessed and be a blessing to others in your life when you follow His will. If you don’t, you are robbing God and it will not pay!

TIME THIEVES

There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time. –Napoleon

 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

             We have a lot of gadgets to rob us of our time these days. Smart phones, computers, smart watches, video games, internet radio, and the old television will rob more time for us than you can shake a stick at. It seems as if Satan has more ways to keep us busy doing nothing than we have ever had in history.

             I recently noticed a new feature on my phone; it tells me how long I have been using it each week. I was amazed at the amount of time I was using it on social network sights. So what’s a man to do, make a commitment to the Lord and adjust the amount of time spent on them!

             Have you been wasting time on your go to gadget? Make a commitment to spend less time on that and more time serving others. Make a commitment to spend more time in your Bible! Make more time with your family! Get the drift? Number your days that you may apply your heart to wisdom!