Giving from a Generous Heart

May 6, 2018 Background Scripture: Exodus 25:1 – 7; 35:4 – 29; Leviticus 27:30 – 33; 2 Corinthians 9:6 – 8 Lesson Passage: Exodus 35:20 – 29; Leviticus 27:30 – 33; 2 Corinthians 9:6 – 8 The various offerings presented in the scriptures can be grouped into four categories: sin offering, peace offering, tithe, and freewill offering. The first three are all specified by God and are not negotiable. Only God decides what is appropriate and how much is required. The freewill offering is unique in that it depends solely on the giver. God may specify what is needed of a freewill offering, but He leaves it up to the giver to determine what will be given based on the desires of the giver’s heart. If the need is for gold, the giver will decide if it would be given and how much will be given. The passage of scripture from Exodus describes God’s request for a freewill offering from the people of Israel that would be needed for the construction and furnishing of the tabernacle. Since God provided the plan for the tabernacle and its furnishings, He also provided the list of materials that would be needed to complete it. It is worth noting that the people did not bring the items all at once. Every morning, people kept bringing a freewill offering as they found it in their hearts to do so. The scriptures describe the disposition of the people as having their hearts stirred up or the ones whose spirit made them willing. This could be the reason why it was not all brought at the same time. Some people had not yet been convicted to give for the Lord’s work. But they kept bringing offerings according to God’s request for the tabernacle. The passage of scripture from the New Testament letter also describe a freewill offering. This was being received for the poor saints in the Jerusalem church. It is apparent from the letter that the Christians at Corinth had previously pledged to support the Jerusalem congregation, but they had not followed through by bringing the offering. Paul urged the Corinthians to complete their promise of giving before the missionaries arrived to receive it on behalf of the Jerusalem church. In the lesson passage, Paul connects blessings with the giving. He stated that liberal giving would yield liberal blessings and stingy giving would likewise yield stingy blessings. He reminded them that it was a freewill offering and that it should not be given in a grudging way as though they were being compelled to give it. They should be cheerful or rejoicing in the privilege of giving and this attitude would be pleasing to God. The first passage and the last passage in today’s lesson speak of a freewill offering. The middle passage from Leviticus speaks solely of the tithe (or tenth). The tithe is first introduced in scriptures as an act of faith on the part of Abram over five hundred years before the Law was given to Israel through Moses. In fact, Moses was yet to be born when Abram gave a tenth of his increase as an offering. Tithing was repeated by Abram’s grandson, Jacob, many years later but yet hundreds of years before the giving of the Law. When the Law was given, it included the tithe. It was included not just as an offering but as a holy thing unto the Lord. Including the tithe in the Law as holy, made bringing it an act of obedience and an act of worship. The tithe is an acknowledgement that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Bringing the tithe is an act of agreement that God is the rightful owner and the worshiper is a steward. With this understanding, whether it is the tithe or a freewill offering, the giver should be able to cheerfully bring both with a generous heart. Robert C. Hudson April 18, 2018

Blessing, Glory, Honor Forever

April 29, 2018 Background Scripture: Revelation 5:6 – 14 Lesson Passage: Revelation 5:6 – 14 The twenty-four worshipping elders of last week’s lesson are identified in today’s lesson. Identification is important whenever prophetic writing is under consideration. Prophetic writing is often a combination of facts, symbols, and images. As a result of this mixture of literary devices, prophecy can be extremely difficult to understand and interpret in the absence of clarifying statements or descriptions. Therefore, whenever something within the writing is identified, it adds a measure of clarity as far as understanding and interpreting the writing. In today’s text, the twenty-four elders sung a song of redemption. It is in the lyrics or the words of the song that they identify who they are. The words of the song declare, “and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”. The twenty-four elders consisted of individuals out of every demographic of people on the earth. They were redeemed by the slain Lamb of God. This description of the elders is the same description used for the New Testament church. Put another way, this list of demographics is an enumeration of the “whosoever will” group that heard the gospel message and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. This identification of the twenty-four elders gives us better context for considering the lesson. In the scene described by today’s text, John was viewing the “raptured” church gathered around the throne of God. Their garments and crowns were indicative that they had been glorified and had received their reward (crown of life). In today’s lesson text, the raptured church was worshiping the Lamb who had been deemed worthy to take the book of judgment from God’s hand and remove the seals. The removal of the seals would unleash the final judgments of God. Both heaven and earth will be affected by the final judgments. When the Lamb took the book, the elders and the living creatures worshiped and sang and offered the prayers of the saints before God. After this praise, millions of angels began to exhort the Lamb and declare that He is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. This then led to a universal praise of the Lamb by every creature in heaven and on earth. This universal praise declared that the blessings and honor for God and the Lamb should be eternal. To this universal praise the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders exclaimed, “Amen.” Judgment Day had arrived and the Lamb that was slain to be Savior was now the eternal Judge of the living and the dead. The church, twenty-four elders, was already in heaven before the beginning of the judgments. This was one of the promised blessings for the church; she would not come into judgment. The Lamb had taken the church’s punishment on Calvary. Because of this blessing, all the redeemed should proclaim “Blessings, Glory, and Honor to the Lamb forever!” Robert C. Hudson March 8, 2018