Bible Study Plan 2019
Today we read:
Leviticus 14
Mark 14
Psalms 31
-Food for thought day 66-
• Mark 11:13-17
When we pay taxes we don’t debate or ask the government what they do with our money. Whether the money is spent for the right cause or not; but we obey the rules and regulations of the system.
Jesus never argued when He was asked to pay tax.
“But they sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him for the purpose of entrapping Him in His speech. And they came up and said to Him, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be, that You cannot lie, and that You have no personal bias for anyone; for You are not influenced by partiality and have no regard for anyone’s external condition or position, but in [and on the basis of] truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful (permissible and right) to give tribute (poll taxes) to Caesar or not? Should we pay [them] or should we not pay [them]? But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, Why do you put Me to the test? Bring Me a coin (a denarius), so I may see it. And they brought [Him one]. Then He asked them, Whose image (picture) is this? And whose superscription (title)? They said to Him, Caesar’s. Jesus said to them, Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. And they stood marveling and greatly amazed at Him.”
We as believers in Christ are supposed to act the same as concerns giving for the work of God. It’s not in our place to ask irrelevant questions; we are not the judge. Let God be the judge on how the funds are managed.
“Judge not [neither pronouncing judgment nor subjecting to censure], and you will not be judged; do not condemn and pronounce guilty, and you will not be condemned and pronounced guilty; acquit and forgive and release (give up resentment, let it drop), and you will be acquitted and forgiven and released. Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.”
The first part speaks of judge not and the second part speaks of giving and receiving.
In other words, if we judge before or after giving, we disqualify ourselves from receiving.
Remember, all giving is an act of faith towards God. That is why it should be directed towards God and His purpose; so that He God will reward us openly.
“Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.”
We should not be victims of giving and grumbling, because we will miss our reward. Whenever we give grudgingly with the wrong motive and unwillingly, we disqualify ourselves from receiving our reward from the Lord.
It’s time we qualify for receiving. If you have been a victim of judging, grumbling and giving with a wrong motive; repent!
Let us all see giving in God’s perspective and not carnally.
It’s time to receive!
Many blessings in Jesus’ Name.
Think and Act !!!!!