Saturday, June 20, 2009

Today's Passage: Deuteronomy 15-16

Only if the world still operated like this today! Debt forgiveness after every seven years, any takers? I can remember a class I took in college where my professor was teaching us a little bit about how God originally intended things regarding the economy. God's original creation was that there would be no poor. Everything was perfect. After sin entered the world, that all changed. The question that arose in class went something like, "What are Christians today supposed to do about those who are in need and the poor?" The class I was in was on the book of Acts, and we were learning about the understanding of fellowship. Today's passage reminded me a lot of that because God was instructing His people to take care of one another. In chapter 16, verse 17, it says that, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you." I think this could be the summary sentence of these two chapters.

God was very clear that if the people would strictly obey the voice of the Lord and were careful to obey His commandments, God would continue to bless them as he had in the past. Our teacher taught us this concept of God's blessings will always be sufficient for our needs and at times in our abundance, we are to give to those who are in need as we are able. Chapter 15, verse 11 still remains true to this day, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land."

It is not coincidence that this teaching of helping those in need is right in the midst of God teaching His people about the sacrifices they are to make to Him in worship. We use the term "tithe" today. A better understanding of this term is explained here. That understanding is that as God blesses, we then are able to bless others who are in need (and there is no short of people who are in need.) This is an act of worship!

I must be honest, this truth is something that I struggle with myself. As you read this, I pray that the Lord would work in your heart to look for those opportunities to worship Him.