Nehemiah 10
Last week we particularly noticed how in their renewed commitment to God the Jews pledged to give of 'the firstfruits' or 'firstborn' of their ground, trees, sons, cattle, herds, flocks, dough, wine and oil to the house of God (verse 35-39). This followed the law as set out in Exodus (22:29-30).
We were reminded that giving firstfruits to the temple provided the food etc which those serving in the temple needed. Doing so not only honoured God by obeying him but also meant the priests and Levites could be free to spend their time serving God in carrying out the temple duties, rather than needing to be working in the fields to provide for their own families. They were also honouring God by recognising that he had given these providential blessings to them and that they were trusting he would continue to bless with more.
We are no longer under the Levitical law, but as all scripture is for our instruction I wondered how this applied to us today. The thoughts that came have been organised into three sections:
1. How we give of our finances, time, natural talents and possessions for our public worship of God and place of worship;
2. How we give likewise for the support of fellow believers - who are today's 'temple', God dwelling in them;
3. In regard to our lives and eternity.
Today we continue with thoughts around how bringing firstfruits to the temple could apply to how we are to give of our means to fellow believers.
God no longer has one physical central temple to come to for worship, but as we help our fellow believers does it not give to his spiritual church - those individuals who are as those individual stones all forming a part of the temple?
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3: 16, 'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? By helping our fellow believers we are honouring God in helping those who he loves, those who are part of him and in whom he dwells. I am not for one moment suggesting that we are to worship our fellow believers, but does it not remind us of the words Jesus said he will speak when he comes again?...'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40).
In 2 Corinthians 8 Paul describes this spirit of giving to the needs of each other as a grace given by God (verse 1) to be abounded in (verse 4) and to be done cheerfully (verse 9). I had never noticed this description of giving as a grace before!
Paul calls it 'the fellowship of the ministering to the saints' and says, 'He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully...let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9: 6, 7). Perhaps Paul calls it a fellowship of ministering to the saints because of the love that is seen and felt as these things are done. It reminds me of how on giving their firstfruits to the temple, the Jews were demonstrating a trust that God had given them to him and he would bless them with more. We sow in the way that we give of our finances, time, possessions and talents to help others, and we reap in the ways that the Lord blesses our giving - which is actually giving to him. (I don't believe it means that we 'give 'purely to 'get' more - that would be a spirit of greed and self-interest).
We see an example of this when Paul tells the Philippian church that although he has learnt to be content in whatever state he is in, they have done well in sharing with him in his affliction and sending gifts for his necessities. He calls their giving 'an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God' (Philippians 4: 18). In giving to our fellow believers we give to God.
On writing of a collection for believers in Jerusalem Paul recommended setting aside money regularly on the first day of the week, 'Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come' (1 Corinthians 16: 2). This speaks to me of a sense of order and preparedness and also emphasises to me that it is 'as the Lord hath prospered' us. We too could follow this example to regularly set money aside to help others according to as the Lord prompts us, 'Every man according as he purposeth in his heart'. Let us listen to the Spirit prompting us from within - often that quiet whisper, that still small voice - and let us be encouraged that in obeying it and willingly giving to the Lord, he will bless us in so doing and provide all we need.
I notice how in 2 Corinthians 8:1 Paul speaks of this grace as one 'bestowed on the churches of Macedonia'. That the Lord had given them 'an abundance' of joy, and out of their 'deep poverty' they 'abounded unto the riches of their liberality'. The working of the Spirit in their hearts was producing a fruit of joy, which they were offering back to the Lord in their giving to others despite their own poverty.
In our giving to others, although we have been particularly thinking of those who are part of God's spiritual church, I am reminded of the words in Galatians 6:10, 'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith'. We are to be loving to all mankind, as a witness of the light and love of God that is within us - it is not for us to judge whether somebody is a believer before we are kind to them, but there is a special emphasis on fellow believers.
But giving financially is only one aspect - there is the giving of our time, love, possessions and skills in other ways as there is the need and opportunity - a telephone call or a message expressing concern and giving a listening ear and encouragement in the Lord, meals for somebody sick or in financial difficulties, transport assistance, sensitively and lovingly giving advice if it is needed and appropriate, helping with arrangements, cleaning, ironing, gardening, babysitting, picking up children from school, collecting a prescription, taking to an appointment, just sitting with somebody, sewing, and so much more. I know a man who always plants more vegetable seed than he needs that he might give of the abundance to those who have less.
Let us pray that the Lord will pour out his Spirit of love in us, that we too might abound in this grace of giving; to help us - that as the Spirit within us prompts us to do these things, may we not resist it, but pray to the Lord to make us more willing to give, to be more loving and kind to each other. And thus, as we give to others, we too bring to the Lord our firstfruits, trusting that he will bless us with more.
'And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work' (2 Corinthians 9: 7, 8).
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