I never went back to the congregation which made people go up and give offering before they could participate in communion( Eucharist). This foregoing statement is relevant to a comment I made on my previous tithing posting. I never went back because anyone that had perhaps given all they had on the previous week, and had nothing on this week, would not be able to participate from a communion, but instead be humbled in their seats as they watched all those givers that did things to be seen in public ( you know them, they parade in front of others with the expensive suits, and jewelry). I am very happy at my present congregation because they just keep boxes in the rear of the building, and one is free to give whenever. Moreover, this method of giving must be working because they are one of the top 10 largest congregations in the U.S.
I said all this before because Jesus told us to give in the following manner:
Mathew 6:2 says "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."
Mathew 6:3 says "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
The foregoing is making a very clear emphasis on being very private about our giving....
Mathew 5:42 says "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."
We definitely need to give, Jesus told us to give.
Luke 6:38 says "give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Reference:
ESV Bible
Sometimes we can not give money, if we do not have any at the time the giving needs to be done. A good example of this in scrpture is in the the book of Acts it says in:
ReplyDeleteActs 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
Acts 3:4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
Acts 3:5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
Acts 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
If we know the story this begger had been carried here to beg for many years, and he was positioned at a main gate which incresed the chances for receiving.
Peter and John had no money to give him, but they did give him something greater...the ability to walk....