Idol on the shelf.

The Elf on the shelf

Because what we really need this season, or any season, is more lies and teaching by dumb idols that don't speak. Because the truth, reality, and nature of God in this world--revealed by His Word and Spirit--just isn't enough and needs a little sprucing up around the holidays to make things fun. When the Word of God isn't speaking to you loudly or clearly enough to bring your heart gladness, just create things that do. Surely the truth in their guidance and consistency of their watching eyes will subdue sinful hearts and bring joy to an otherwise boring and empty place or season.

¹⁸ “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.

¹⁹ Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;
there is no breath in it.”

²⁰ The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.

(Habakkuk 2:18-20)

Why do any of us (Christians) think we need to make up and adopt mystical lies to bring a smile to our face? There is One who watches, rules, reigns, and makes sure good gifts are given--HE IS GOD!  Let the smile these silly things bring be replaced with frowning, the joy they bring replaced with sadness, and their laughter replaced with weeping.  God really does speak, does watch, and does give perfectly good gifts.  He speaks infinitely better things than the empty, vain, deaf, and dumb guidance of any Idol on the shelf could every provide.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
(Psalm 91:14-16)

Do you want your children to have TRUE joy--YEAR ROUND? Teach them and others the TRUTH; show them what a JOY it is to DELIGHT IN IT! DELIGHT IN HIM! Lord, fill us with Your joy! God may we cast down all lies and false idols that we can so easily adopt when lead astray. May Your Words of life cause us to live for YOU!

Christians, brothers and sisters, children of the MOST HIGH!  We must acknowledge these silly and vain things for what they are.  They are idols we are assigning thought and personality to, which do not have thought or personality.  It's an idol in every sense of the word--literally, truly.  If you have an elf on the shelf, and it so happens to be sitting on the mantel above a fireplace, then it would be fitting that you send it to its rightful place. Please strike a match, light a fire, and send the elf about 3 feet below. You can do it now, or the Lord can do it later. If you don't have a fireplace, this is just one suggested method of destroying it. The garbage will suffice.

For the sake of Him Who has called us apart in this world and awakened us by His Spirit; Who teaches us truth and Who has spoken--be done with the teaching of lies, and chasing after things we know are not true and cannot bring life.  See this, and things alike, for what it is.  These lifeless things are lifeless, and add NOTHING to our growth.  We think they bring joy, but secretly they bring destruction.  Search your heart, and see why the teaching that an inanimate object would speak, think, and have any intelligible actions at all would bring us delight.  If we are this removed from reality in ascribing the supernatural to that which is not supernatural (a silly elf we lie about), it is truly a testament to where we are with God, who really is supernatural.  Do we even know the difference?  God gives abundant life, truly speaks the truth, and watches at all times to truly build up those Who seek Him. He loves you so much, He just can't keep His eyes off of you!

 

 

A much greater truth... a sweeter promise.  The eyes of GOD are watching!  He really lives, and He REALLY loves you!

²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹ which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

(Luke 2:27-35)

Happy Halloween?

Should we celebrate Halloween? I am not going to say all of us absolutely shouldn't, but I hope to give some good reasons for why we shouldn't, depending on the context of your celebration. The overarching question I would seek to ask in our celebration could be, "Am I loving death, or am I loving Christ"? Well, that seems like a strange question, but it's a question we should examine with.  We want to love God at all times... of course.  However, there are many things around this national holiday particular that honor death; whether light heartedly or very prominently, I think it begs our sincere attention, and correction if we walk after them.  Then, considering that walk, how we can walk in wisdom.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

 

As we walk into this holiday season (not this holiday only), let's ask ourselves: Why do we do what we do? Why do we celebrate any holiday at all? It should not be just because our neighbor does it, and the calendar says so. We should give thought to our actions. We were purchased with a great price, and we believe a Gospel that makes us very different than those who do not.  Before we give celebration and attention to a tradition, we should consider its worth; especially tradition we know has no claim of origin in God's Word. We should walk as wise, considering our steps in these days that are evil, and know what the will of God is.

Colossians 4:5-6
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

All Christians should agree that basing our behaviors and celebrations based on cultural inheritance is foolish, yet many of us do it anyways. We inherited many of the things we celebrate in our culture from long long ago, and the fact our neighbor does it seems to be strong persuasion. And, we can often fall prey to the false mindset that says, "How else will I be a witness unless I do what they do?" When, in fact, it is our coming away from deadly practices that ought to confuse the world by our seperated behavior (1 Peter 4:3-4).

For the purpose of this post, I am not going to go into the history of Halloween.  I know some people that adamently cast off Halloween look to the history of it as the reason.  However, I don't know that we need to go there to make a case one way or the other.  I don't think the history of then is important as the reality of now, as far as what we are doing today and with what intent.  Nobody has to know the history of Halloween in order to celebrate it, and most don't.  Rather than basing our celebration of a holiday on history, base it on your actions and your heart right now.  If it's wicked and/or contrary to God, then get rid of it.  Simply, "Is it honoring to the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE that God gives?"  If we search the history of Halloween we will no doubt find various things about pagan roots. Even so, let's set it asside and go only on this alone:  To know Jesus Christ and Him cruicified.  Is our walk honoring to Him?--walking carefully regarding this life, as we ought to be doing.

Proverbs 8:32-36
³² “Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.

... Who is this, "wisdom"?

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech -Proverbs 8:12-13

Notice how fearing God and hating evil go hand-in-hand.  Are you enouraging other people to fear something else, this holiday season?  Something other than God?  Something more spooky, mysterious, and more sinister, perhaps?  Is that what we plan to do this holiday season?  Will we hate evil, or love it, and take joy in it?  We know that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 1:7), and of course it is ultimately God who is the maker of all things wise, can give wisdom, and from Whom gives us perfect wisdom from above (James 1:15; James 3:17). We can safely say that God, being the beginning of wisdom, giving perfect wisdom, and being the Maker of all things including wisdom, is speaking to us here.

Proverbs 8 goes on to say this, as it ends in verse 36:

But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”

Why this Proverb? Well, like many proverbs its addressing wisdom, and we need wisdom from God to understand how we should walk. It also addresses some matters of fear (whom or what) and death.  It seems to be fitting with the common practices on Halloween.  By His Holy Spirit, and through His Word, He will reveal to us right paths. We are told we should seek it, and we can know it. We can in fact know what the will of God is, and we can do what pleases Him. Also, though, this Proverb has an interesting text that says "All who hate ME (Wisdom, and God Himself who gives it to those who seek), LOVE DEATH."

We know that death is the result of SIN.  Do we give death glory, or God glory?

Death and sin are connected, throughout the Bible.  Jesus died, but we do not love that death accept that we know it actually gives LIFE. If Jesus died, and never rose again, we too would indeed be lovers of death. We love the murder of a just man, who went to the grave into the mystery of death and the afterlife unknown. However, that is not what we celebrate, because it didn't end there. What we celebrate is LIFE that is eternal!

So, should we or should we not celebrate Halloween?  There are many choices on how we celebrate, aren't there?  I would say much of that depends on if the things we choose to do this holiday, displays a love for death.  As we look around on Halloween, we see things that are designed to glorify and honor death.  These things take multiple forms, but mostly take death light heartedly, or give in a place or honor.  We should not be promoting any mystery surrounding death, and certainly not giving honor to death, but we should be promoting the truth revealed in God's Word.  Next to cute lady bug, pumpkin, and a fireman suit, I see a witch, a devil, and a ghost.  Not all things done around this holiday are all the same.  So, what are you doing?

We should all fulfill Eph 5:15-17, as we walk carefully this holiday and every day, knowing that the days are evil; seek to do good in them, knowing what the will of God is. Then, honestly answer that question for yourself. Don't just throw down a nice little sticky window design of a ghost, a witch, or a brain eating zombie, and say... oh look how festive and "cute" that is. Is that what you believe honors God--being stuck in this life or the afterlife, dead but not alive, somewhere in limbo, confused about life and death, seeking to bring death or a similar state to others? Is your freedom to take light-heartedly demonic witchcraft (a very real thing) the reason for why Christ died?  Do we even believe in ghosts, as are represented in society? Do you think ghosts are cute? Is that what the Spirit of God says?  Are these things "cute" to us, and if so... then in the spirit of Eph 5:15-17... consider why, and if they actually should be.

Walk carefully—consider your steps that you take--as wise, not as fools.  Then, do what the Spirit of God, and His Word, says is good and honoring to the LIFE that only HE gives.

What's In a Name?

Our daughter Hannah was born last Sunday morning, on Father's Day.  A big factor in choosing that name, is what it means.  Hannah, means "grace".  We did not know what would come, Lord willing, whether it would be a boy or a girl.  Isaiah would have been the name if the child was a boy (meaning God is Salvation), and Hannah the name if a girl (grace).  A similar theme, I think.

Grace!  That's definitely what the labor experience with Hannah was, and has been.  After the experience with Micah (83 hours of labor, with marginal sleep), the perfect word for this labor is "grace".  Micah means "Who is like the Lord," and there were definitely times where we were ready to give up, and had to have the faith to rely on WHO the Lord is, despite our pains, throughout that time.

Hannah, though, came with grace.  She came with everything we wanted, so far as we can tell.  She came from beginning of contractions to delivery, in about 5.5 hours, at home, and with no complications.  Not only that, but when Shanda gave birth (whenever that would have been), I had plans with work to have the following week off.  What a beautiful week to have off work it has been!  It's the nicest it's been all year--sunny and warm.  It's allowing me to get some things done around the house and help Shanda get adjusted in the best way possible.  I'm going to go outside and work on the trailer here in a little bit.  And not to be forgotten, the night Shanda went into labor was a night Micah just happened to be spending the night at grandma and grandpa's, so we knew he was being taken care of while we prepared to deliver a baby.  GRACE!

Furthermore, it is our prayer that Micah would in some special way cause others to say, "Who is like the Lord!?", and Hannah would cause others to glorify Him for His grace.  And, I believe God has plans to fulfill that.  We're excited to see just how He will.

Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise...

Amos 3:3-6

³ “Do two walk together,
unless they have agreed to meet?
⁴ Does a lion roar in the forest,
when he has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from his den,
if he has taken nothing?
⁵ Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth,
when there is no trap for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground,
when it has taken nothing?
⁶ Is a trumpet blown in a city,
and the people are not afraid?
Does disaster come to a city,
unless the Lord has done it?

------------------

Verses 3-6 are rhetorical questions asked by God, all having the same answer (No), of things that go hand-in-hand.  Yet, I think that when we come to verse 6, it will give many of us pause.

"Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?"
("No")

"Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?"
("No")

"Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?"
(No)

"Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it?"
("No")

"Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?"
("No")

"Is a trumpet blown in a city and the people are not afraid?"
("No")

"Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?"
("N.... well... wait a sec.)

God doesn't cause all disasters, does He?  Let me review these questions and their answers again.  I need to reread verses three through six.  Verse 3, answer is "No".  Verse 4 (two questions), answer is "No" and "No".  Verse 5 (two questions), answer is "No" and "No".  Verse 6 (two questions), answer is "No", and the answer is... must be No.

Consider the worst disaster that has ever happened to a city.  We have the tornados in OK, recently, or hurrican Sandy.  There is a long endless list of disasters we could list, on and on.

The title of this post is, "Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise."  Have you ever said it?  If not, perhaps you have heard it, or at least you can understand what is meant by it.  Or, what *should* be meant by it.  This post is BIGGER than a saying, so stay with me.  Do we understand disaster, when it strikes?  Do we rightly understand what is happening, when it comes upon us or if we hear of it coming upon others?  Many catchy things people say are not actually based in any truth at all, while others can just be misunderstood.  I believe this is the latter.  The question of the day is not about this saying, but about what are you saying when the creek does or does not rise?  Did the creek act on its own sovereign will, or was it resonding to the sovereign will of God?  There is a right answer.

For me, I believe I have (wrongly) made the "Lord willing", and "the creek don't rise" as two separate forces working independently of one another.  That would be, incorrect.  The "and" in that sentance, should not mean "this other thing working by its own will", but instead it should mean "according to the will of God".  Now it is not the saying that is wrong, in this case.  I think it is our understanding that can be wrong, as mine has been at times regarding it, and things of its nature (no pun intended, really).

In effort to keep this post short, which could be very long, I will just say this.  God causes disaster.  That is something we have to really come to grips with.  As I read through Amos, I see God telling them over and over that He is causing disaster here, and not there... there... and not here.  All the while, He is seeking repentance, purification, and righteousness. 

Whenever you see a disaster of any kind nearby or far away... it is supposed to cause YOU, and ME, (not just them) to repent.  The creek, and "nature", do not have minds of their own.  A better way of saying this more directly, with less chance of misunderstanding would be, "The Lord willing, the creek will rise or it will not."

James 4:13-17

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Luke 13:1-5

¹ There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Raising Children

Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.

---------

There are many times in my job where I have been called upon to train a new employee--not to discipline, but to train.  It's a specific task, separate from discipline.  The majority of any discipline that this trainee receives, will actually be at the hand of someone else after I have trained him or her.  Suffice it to say, there is a difference between training and discipline.  As parents, however, we have been called to be both trainer, and disciplinarian of our children.  Though I am a young parent, and by no means an "expert", I think all of us parents should consider.  Here are my considerations, and may God help us in doing it.

At a young age, the only thing that children can understand, is discipline.  For a time, when they are very little, discipline is all we have to rely on.  Certain actions invoke negative reactions.  As they come into understanding, however, we should seek to avoid the pitfall of thinking that in administering discipline, we are actually training them.  That is certainly not the case.  When I train someone, I show them how they ought to work or behave.  I don't just tell them to have at it, and discipline them when they are wrong.  How infuriating it can be, when we are disciplined for doing something wrong, which we have never been properly trained to do in the first place!  I believe this is a method of "discipline" many of us can fall into, if we are not careful.  And, I believe that would be provoking our children to wrath (Eph 6:4)--something we seek to avoid doing.

Training takes a lot of work, and so does diligence in disciplining.  It's by God's merciful design that children grow up so slowly (compared to the animal kingdom).  If I am going to train a child, I am going to have to kill hypocrisy in me wherever it is found.  In the little time that I have been a father, I am seeing just how much training I give Micah while I am unaware.  Better to be aware of that training that I give him!  Whenever you are in the site of your children, you are training.

Don't train without discipline and don't discipline without training.  Let's also not be fooled into thinking that they are the same thing, or that either can be done properly apart from one another.  All parents should consider the words of 1 John 3:18, before we ever discipline.  May it cause us to ask ourselves first, "have I given proper training"?

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

The Tithe: Jesus Approved

Matthew 23:23-24

 

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

----

Notice what Jesus says here. He tells these Pharisees that "these", that is, "justice and mercy and faithfulness", should have been done. He calls them "weightier matters" of the law. Jesus gives further command regarding the tithe in saying they should not be "neglecting the others." Or, as the KJV states it, "without leaving the other undone". That is to say, they should be doing all these things, including the tithe. I don't necessarily think He is saying those things are more important, but perhaps weightier in that they are more difficult to accept and do. They are indeed weighty for those who are going to do such things in circumstances that especially require them. It's easy for me to cut 10% off the top, but it's much harder to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (faith) with my God, when push comes to shove. Either way, they are grouped together by Jesus as all things that should to be done

Do you approve of justice, mercy, and faith?

If we are going to say, "The tithe is just OT stuff, it doesn't apply", then we can also say that justice, mercy, and faithfulness are also to be tossed. Now, I'm certainly not suggesting that we do that of course. Jesus approves and commands the tithe ought to be done. I believe God's Word tells us that all should be done. So, we see that the Pharisees were not making the mistake of tithing, but of neglecting other "weightier" matters. They did well to tithe, but they were straining a gnat to swallow a camel.

What's this straining a gnat to swallow a camel thing about?

Jesus is painting a picture of their hypocrisy. See Leviticus 11:2-4, 41; Leviticus 11:32-35. According to the Levitical law, both camels and insects were unclean. So, what would they do? They would place something over their earthen vessel, such as a cup or bowl, so that nothing unclean would enter and die, thereby needing to destroy it (Lev 11:33). So, they were making sure no tiny gnats fell dead into their cups whilst they were unaware, then sitting down to a big camel-steak dinner. Both unclean, and against Levitical law.

Here they were doing the same thing, but regarding things that Jesus says all ought to be done: justice, mercy, faith, and the tithe.

The tithe is not often addressed in the NT, but when it is... it is not cast off.

In the New Testament It is not frowned upon, spoken against, or mocked. The only time it is spoken of by Jesus, it is confirmed as a good thing, right along with justice, mercy, and faith. How then can we say that the tithe is not for today? There is something unique about the tithe. It is commanded, it pleases God, and He blesses us for doing it.
 

When you consider all the things the Jews would have been impressing upon the early Christians, along with various laws lingering over regarding sacrifices and circumcision--is it not surprising that the tithe is never brought up with a counter argument? Is it no surprise that it is not mentioned with chagrin because of those who would have still been teaching others to do so? The converted Jews certainly would have been tithing (which is a very specific thing), but never is it suggested that the tithe ought not to be done. 2 Cor 9:7, for example, only encourages us to give cheerfully. And, we should do so! This "giving" is better compared to the offering spoken of in Malachi, and not the tithe. Offerings and tithes are not the same thing. The offering was (is) anything above and beyond the tithe. Even so, we should certainly tithe cheerfully as well! I am blessing God in obedience, and He blesses me more than I put out. It's a win-win.

What if we don't tithe? Will we be sinning?

To that I ask this: What if we are not just, merciful, and faithful, will we be sinning? If we say justice, mercy, and faithfulness are good things we should hold onto, then I certainly suggest that these weightier matters ought to be done without leaving the other (tithes) undone.  We know in part, and we see in part... but as God reveals, we should obey. The tithe is one of those things, I certainly believe. It is a truth God revealed to me in His Word, and has confirmed in my heart in doing so. God... help me not to neglect the weighted matters. If He has revealed His Word to us in the tithe, then yes; I believe we will be robbing God, which is sin. Robbing is not my word, but God's Word. Furthermore, we will also be missing out on the blessing that comes specifically in response to God's challenge to us in tithing (back in Malachi).

So in conclusion...

· The tithe predates the law; but not just that it predates the law, it was given to Mechizedek who is of the same priesthood as Jesus (king of peace, king of righteousness).

· The tithe comes with a unique blessing, in response to a unique challenge/command found nowhere else in Scripture--"test me in this", God says.

· The tithe is spoken of with approval by Jesus. These you ought to have done, and not left the other undone.

We must all decide for ourselves. I highly recommend the win-win that God promises in His challenge and command to tithe. But, remember now--don't neglect the weightier matters of the law.

Psalm 34:1 -- I will bless the Lord at all times -- REALLY?

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Do you ever find yourself singing a song with lyrics that convict you a bit. When you consider the words, you can't sing them with real honesty because you feel it isn't really  true? For example, perhaps the lyrics sing that you will never  turn away from God. But, don't we all turn away from God when we sin? Perhaps the lyrics claim your heart is totally  tuned into God, or that your eyes are totally fixed on Him, always. But, how many times in your life is this actually true, compared to the times it is not true? Or, perhaps lyrics that sing you will never forget God. But, I start to think, "Oh Lord, how quickly I do forget? How can I sing this song right now? You get the idea, I think.

The problem is, I know my nature and my heart just a bit, and I know that God knows it much better than I do. I can't hide my hypocricy from God. How can I sing praises to Him with words that claim I walk so perfectly, so blamelessly, and so continually before Him? Give me a song like, "How quickly we forget"--now that's a song I can sing with honesty!

David offers a pretty high claim in his song, starting off in verse one with, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Really, David--at all times? I can probably think of at least one time after this where you didn't bless the Lord. Yet, God speaks to us through many Psalms of David, prophetically at times, still today.

Here is something I came to understand awhile back that has really helped me with this issue feeling like a hypocrite singing songs with words like Psalm 34:1. And, I think the key to this issue is found at the end of Psalm 34 in verse 22: "The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned."

Someday, we'll be in heaven. Sing like you know it; someday in heaven when you are rescued and not condemned. Put yourself before the throne of grace, as you know is God's will, where you can come boldly because of the completed work He has done. Bring your emotions subject to the promise of God that someday, you will be with Him forever. And, His praises will indeed forever be on your lips; you will indeed bless the Lord at all times because the Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Now, it's true if there is sin we need to repent. If we have our gift before the alter and remember our brother may have something against us, we should leave our gift there and go to that brother/sister first (Matthew 5:23-24). However, if that's all taken care of, then bring your gift. Put yourself in heaven and realize that someday all of those songs you sing about continually praising God, will be absolutely true. It is His will to save you. Submit to that will, and praise God like you know He desires. He died to make such a thing possible for you.

John 4:23

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

The Tithe: A Command With a Special Challenge and Blessing

Let's get to it... the only place God ever told anyone to test Him—in all the verses in all the chapters in all the books in all Bible.  God's challenge is specific, regarding the tithe.

Malachi 3:6-12 (bolding added)

⁶“For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
⁷ Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’

⁸“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

¹¹“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts; ¹² “And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts. 

They robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings.  What's the difference between tithes and offerings?  The tithe was a tenth, and offerings are anything beyond the tenth.  Robbing God is a strange idea, really.  Who can steal from the Almighty?  How can someone pickpocket God? Who can break into God's house and take His things? How will mortal man rob God?  You can, and I can.  God said this was done by not returning to Him what is His in tithes, as well as offerings.

TEST ME.  God says to test Him.  If you or I were to do a word search on testing God, we will find enough to say about not testing, or not trying God.  We would find a lot to say about God testing us. Testing and trying God, though, is generally something pointed out as a bad thing to do.  Generally, I say, because there is this one acception.  Malachi chapter 3, regarding tithes and offerings.  God challenges them (and I believe us) to TEST HIM.  I want to highlight some aspects of that promise, below.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it. -Malachi 3:10

Notice here that in verse 10, nothing is mentioned about any "offering"; only the tithe is mentioned. "Bring all the tithes to the storehouse." And God promises, if we accept this challenge, for us to watch and see, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

So How does this promise come to fruition, exactly?  What should that look like when God answers?  I don’t know, exactly, if I have an answer for that.  I do have some suggestions, and perhaps only God can reveal to you what that will look like in your life individually.  Simply stated, God offers a promise that you will experience a return greater than your investment, more than you alone can store. Your cup will overflow.

• One thing I know, is that there is a storehouse in heaven (Matthew 6:19; Mark 10:29-30); certainly this truth of treasure in heaven applies to many circumstances besides the tithe, too.  We should always be looking for ways to store up treasure in heaven, by the things we do and say on Earth.  Perhaps the blessing from God will just be the satisfaction and joy that comes from building up His Kingdom by making financial sacrifice on Earth, knowing you are putting treasure in heaven.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• We also have churches (the house of God) that stores tithes and offerings for distributing wherever there are needs.  When we give at our churches, that's very much like what we're doing.  We've giving it to the House of God... to the storehouses.  Many people are served because of the contribution made to the storehouses so that there is food (both physical and spiritual) in His house.

• You will overflow in a special way that otherwise you will not.  Really, I don’t know for sure what it will look like.  Maybe that's for each one of us to find out for ourselves as we act in obedience.  Bring it, and He will overflow.  You may simply be happier (blessed) and more satisfied knowing that you have been obedient. I think we can all relate to that, but specifically I speak in regards to the tithe.  Bring your tithe, and test God in this.  It's the only place in all of the history of God's people where God challenges us to do this.  And, there is no other investment in this world that can give you that kind of guarantee.

God can answer in a monetary way on occasion.  Ultimately this will not be for your own luxury, but for His glory.  I believe, in faith, that we have experienced this kind of blessing fairly recently.  We were at a crossroads of sorts, moving between churches.  We had a good amount of money stored up (the tithe), and I was personally trying to decide if maybe I should juts hold onto it.  Or, not give it all away.  Maybe my understanding on the tithe was wrong.  Maybe I don't need to give ALL 10%, legalistically.  Maybe we were wrong.  I'd sure like to hang on to this money.  God really wants me to have it.  Why would God want to take 10%, really?  Doubt came along, and chirped.  Maybe we'll just give up a little bit, as we see fit in our own hearts.  God knows the heart, though... in our heart of hearts we knew too.  We believed God spoke with specificity about the tithe.

All of these things so far mentioned came to mind, and we decided to just give it up, and not rob God.  "Lord, we're just going to honor you with the tithe, because we know what your Word says and what your promise is."  We believed it would ultimately be better for us if we did, so we let it go, and sent it out.  The very next day we received a notice in the mail that a certain amount of capital was coming back to us in a very unexpected turn of events, with something that wasn't even on our minds; the value of which was about 80% the tithe we just released the previous day.  Now, could that have been chance?  Oh, many would say it was.  I do not.  I do believe this was a special circumstance of God answering us in a way that was clear, but is certainly not to always be expected.  I think we all have times in our lives where God has answered us in such a way.  And, as further proof that this is a not a prosperity Gospel I'm trying to convey, let me point out that a negative 20% return would not be a good financial investment :).  Yet, there are other benefits... in obedience.

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts; -Malachi 3:11

God will rebuke the devourer.  That’s a very practical promise that I believe applies to the material world.  Things you own will last longer, go further, and stay functional for a greater period of time than they would have otherwise.  When you tithe, what you plant will yeild a better crop than had you kept back that 10% and put it in the ground.  What do you do with all that extra yeild?  Well, you'll tithe off of that of course and put a little more in the ground than you would have otherwise, next time.  No matter your "crop", it's a never ending cycle, see.  It's just God's Word as I simply see it, and experience it.  Something I'm certain you will experience too if you accept His challenge.  The things God has lent you in this life—things that should be used to bring Him glory anyways—will last longer.

But, how will I know?  Here is the problem.  Really, how will you ever know if God rebuked the devourer?  Everything eventually falls apart.  How will you ever know if your car lasted an extra month?  How will you ever know if you got 20 more uses out of your blender?  How will you even know if God is fulfilling His promise?  How will you know if the yield was more plentiful?  How will you know if your work bears more fruit?  Here is the exciting part--you won’t know!  That is, apart from faith you won't know.  All the speculation in the world and you will never know.  You’ll just have to accept that God did what He said He would do, on faith.  The tithe can be, should be, and always has been an instrument of God that causes us to walk by faith, and not by site.

Not of the law... but before the law... of faith.

As we conclude some final thoughts to some questions that may arise regarding the tithe.

Was the tithe just something Abram purposed in his own heart?  This is a fair question, and I don't believe it was.  Why?  Because if the tithe was merely something Abram purposed in his own heart, why is it mentioned later with a special promise and specificity regarding the tithe (a tenth)? Why does God not, when mentioned later in Malachi chapter 3, just say “Purpose in your own heart as Abram did”? No, the tithe/tenth is mentioned specifically, with a promise.  Why does God later say to tithe, and not, "Do what seems good to you"?

What about the circumcision that predates the law as well?  Another fair question.  The circumcision also predates the law (Gen 17).  To that I would point out things previously mentioned, and things to be mentioned next week, making the tithe different.  The tithe comes with a special blessing as mentioned in this post.  The tithe was given to Melchizedek (the circumcision was not), sharing the same priesthood with Jesus.  The circumcision doesn't have these things alike with the tithe, and we're also told specifically that the circumcision is not necessary in the New Testament.  Whereas the tithe, when mentioned in the New Testament, is not actually spoken against, but on the contrary it is spoken for.  The tithe is actually mentioned with approval, by Jesus Himself.

Not to get ahead of myself, because that’s next week...

On my almost-daily trek to Hy-Vee over my lunch, I observed a toddler fighting to hold his mom's hand. Mom, for safety sake said, "You need to hold my hand" as they crossed the parking lot.  The little boy fought, whined, and struggled to hold Mom's hand. Mom understood why he needed to hold her hand... and I, being a witness of it also understood... but the little boy did not.  Sometimes, many times... children can be childish.


But, it made me wonder what our Father, saints before, and the angels in heaven understand... when He says "Hold my hand", for our own safety.  And yet, we struggle and fight, and sin, because we think we know best.  Let's not be childish.  We are surrounded by many onlookers.


Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Tithe: It Predates the Law

This post is going to appear very long; however, be of good cheer... it's not quite as long as it seems :).  About half of it is all Scripture (some bolding added for emphasis). Rather than just reference it, I am going to post it here in full to read (NKJV).

The "First Mention Principle" is a principle of Bible interpretation in "hermeneutics". Hermeneutics (a fancy word) basically means the art of interpreting texts; in this case, the Bible. When is the first time the word or event appears in the Bible?  Go there, and see what the context is.  What is it telling you about it.  Find the place that this particular thing is spoken of for the very first time. Finding this can often be a gateway to understanding the topic at hand when it appears later.  There, don't you feel scholarly now?  I believe this principle is important in understanding the tithe.  That's what I'm going to do now, as I seek to convince.  Let's go to the first place the tithe is mentioned.

Genesis 14:14-24

Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.  And he blessed him and said:
 

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he gave him a tithe of all.
 

Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
 

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
 

So Abram (before he was called Abraham) comes back from winning a battle, with goods from the victory.  It is important to note that Abraham's tithing was in no response to any command from the law, as the law was not yet given.  Abraham wasn't acting out of obligation (1 Cor 9:17) or being legalistic.  On the contrary, it was in faith!  Again, this was before the law, and that's one of my main points.  Also, along with a tenth of all the plunder given to Melchizedek, Abraham received bread and wine from Melchizedek in return.  Where else does bread and wine come into play in the Christian life?  Does it remind you of anything?  Sure it does--communion!  It is in communion, brought to us by Jesus, where we receive bread and wine/juice in remembering Him.  Here the king of Salem (Salem means peace, by the way... he was the king of peace) shows up a bit mysteriously (as Hebrews will go into later), providing bread, wine, and collecting a tenth of Abraham's profit (in faith).  Interesting.

Psalm 110:4

The Lord has sworn

And will not relent,

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek.
 

The Lord has sworn, and will not relent.  You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.  Interesting enough, I thought it worthy of repeating.  This is the second time Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible.  Who is he?  He is not mentioned again until the NT, in Hebrews chapters 5-7.  In Hebrews Melchizedek is called a forerunner of Jesus (as you will see) saying that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek like in the Psalm above.  Jesus is a priest from the same order of Melchizedek who shared wine with bread, and collected a tithe (specifically) out of faith, not according to the law.

Now to the New Testament passages speaking of Melchizedek, and the tithe that predated the law.  Pay attention to where Melchizedek is mentioned here--it is several times.

Hebrews 5:6-11

As He also says in another place: You are a priest forever. According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

 

 

I find it interesting that God tells us in Hebrews that there is much to say about Melchizedek, but it is hard to explain.  Why?  Since you have become dull of hearing.  Let's not be dull of hearing.  If you do feel you are finding this character and topic to be dull, pray about it.  Ask God why this might be.  If you are finding the topic uninteresting or dull, God's Word tells us it's a personal problem.  We're the ones that are dull--it's certainly not His Word that is dull.  If you don't consider this to be dull, then you're ready for what is otherwise hard to explain.  Let's go on!

Hebrews 6:19-20

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek
 

The forerunner has entered for us, Jesus... our High Priest FOREVER, according to... the order of Melchizedek.  Very interesting.  This same Melchizedek who brought bread and wine, and whom received a tithe from Abram well before the law was given.

Now, the "big" one... this one may take some digesting.  Pray that we would not be dull of hearing.

Hebrews 7

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
 

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
 

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies:
 

"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
 

For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
 

The Lord has sworn and will not relent,‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
 

Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
 

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
 

Speaking of Melchizedek ("first being translated, 'king of righteousness'"), "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."  Who was this Melchizedek, really?  Some say he was Jesus, before the time He came fulfilling prophecy, to die for the sins of the world.  I don't know what to believe, regarding who he was really.  No matter your belief on who he was, suffice it to say he was "different", and there are some interesting things here to discuss.

Speaking of the tithe, consider where we're told "but he whose genealogy is not derived from them" (the Levites) "received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises".  Melchizedek was not from the genealogy of the Levites who received the tithe according to the law.  He was apart from any genealogy that handled the law.  We see then in turn that Melchizedek "blessed him" (blessed Abraham, who was operating on faith) "who had the promises."  Abraham had the promises of God.  You know who else does?  The born again believer does.

This passage in Scripture form the NT comes to mind from 2 Cor 1:20, which says, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."  Did you know that because you have been born again, and all of your sins dealt with, all the promises of God for you are who are in Him and He in you, are YES and AMEN.  Here we're told that Abraham, who had the promises of God, was blessed upon giving the tithe to Melchizedek.  We have access to any and all the promises Abraham would have had.  We have the promises of God.

Furthermore we're told, "Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives."  Mortal men receive tithes, this is true.  BUT, we are more than mortal men and women if we've been born again.  We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) with eternal--not mortal--life.  Melchizedek received tithes of whom it is witnessed that he lives.  Well, have we been born again and not witness that He lives?  Sure we have, otherwise we would not be born again.  We have become witnesses for Christ that He lives!  He is Our Witness to the truth  (John 18:37).  How should we not tithe in faith as Abraham did?

Just consider these things.  If you haven't tithed (given a tenth, specifically) back to God, consider God's Word and really consider doing so.  As I've pointed out, the tithe predates the law and the Levites.  It was first given to a priest who was not after the order of the Levites, but before the Levites and of a different order entirely.  This tithe that many brush off (as I have in times past), is far more than just a ritualistic or legalistic act to give a specific 10%.  There is a Biblical reason for it, and a promise (which we will discuss next time).  We should not be dull of hearing regarding the mysteries of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:11).  He was of a priestly order, of whom Jesus Himself is also a part!

Point number one done--the tithe predates the law.  A tenth of all of Abraham's spoil was given to this king of righteousness!  This king of peace, a forerunner of the priesthood of Jesus, our High Priest; before and apart from the law.  It was done in faith!

Next week: The special blessing that goes along with the tithe, and a unique challenge from God to do it.  We'll discuss how releasing a tithe (again, a tenth, specifically) from all our profit carries a weighty challenge and promise from God.