Give Bread to the LORD

There is some literal as well as figurative meaning in the giving of bread to the LORD. This morning I am still in the book of Exodus as I study the word “bread”. In this morning’s passage I am looking at the Israelite “Contributions for the Tabernacle” as it is titled in my bible. Moses brought God’s command to provide for the building of the tabernacle. Everything was to be given from the metal (gold, silver, bronze…), fabric, jewels, craftsman skill, to the bread on the table.

Moses outlined all that was to be brought freely for the building of the tabernacle to the LORD. This is the givings of the figurative bread to the LORD. The people were to share of their blessings back to the LORD who provided those blessings to them. They were blessed with gold, and silver and bronze, jewels, and skills and Moses commanded them from the LORD to give back to the LORD. Aren’t we to do the same with our offerings to the LORD. I have been blessed from the LORD to have what I have and it is only right that I give a portion of that back to Him as an offering to the LORD for Him to do with and provide for others.

And now to speak of the literal bread given back. The people were to provide the bread for the table in the tabernacle. They were to ensure that the table of the LORD was properly provisioned with the bread. Fresh bread daily for the LORD as provided by the people of the LORD.

“¹³the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;” — Exodus 35:13 (ESV)

Now for me in today’s world, there may not be a need to provide the bread for the LORD, but the need for bread is still there. I can and should not just be providing the monetary blessings that God has given, but I should also be providing the blessings of nourishment. It is “easy” to give money to a cause or project. There is little work in writing a check. But providing with food creates more ownership in the work being done for the LORD. It is one thing to provide a gift card for the homeless, but to make them a meal and serve it to them is more involved in the provision. Even buying and bringing is more meaningful.

I can remember many times I have seen someone begging for money on the side of the road. One time in particular, I had just come from a fast food joint where for some reason I bought an extra item that I really did not need (but was going to eat anyway). I came across the person begging for money and I gave them my extra item instead. The look of shear amazement on their face for providing for their immediate need and giving something of myself was fantastic. I was blessed more so and it is so much more memorable that if I would have simply given them $2-3.00.

I have been called to make contributions of bread to the LORD. Some of those contributions are monetary in nature and some are more personal for the giver and the receiver. I can and should be giving of all the blessings from the LORD. Whether those blessings are of metal, jewels, skills, or even of the sustenance value attributed to the actual bread.

What have you been giving to the LORD? Are you simply writing the checks? What if you were to give of the physical and more literally fulfilling to others?

Be Rich in Good Works

“¹⁷As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” — 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV)

There is nothing wrong with being rich. The thing is where are you placing your trust and worth, in the monetary things of this world or in the riches to be gained in heaven. There are plenty of people in this world who are monetarily rich and no one knows because they are not out there in the world pronouncing their riches. They are the ones out there doing the work of Christ and using their monetary wealth to enrich others through their work. These people are doing good and are rich in good works as Paul indicates in the above verses.

Yes, there are those who are in it for themselves and are building up wealth in this world and fully self absorbed in it all. These are the ones out there pronouncing their riches for the world to see and throwing around a few things in full view of the media to be seen as somehow the picture of generous and caring, when in reality the percentage of themselves and their wealth being spread is almost indiscriminate compared to others. These are the rich Paul warns about in the above verses.

I have to look at myself and wonder where I fall in this riches conversation. I am not “rich” by monetary standards, but do feel rich in the fear of the LORD and with my family and that which is here in my immediate world. I have a church where I feel compelled to serve, even in what may seem like a role that gets little to no notoriety, breaking down the building to which we worship. Yet, I do not look to this role as minuscule, it is a vital part of the church and my service to the LORD. I may not have all the riches as one would think, yet I am rich in the LORD.

I have to continue to rely on God and the riches He provides. And “do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share”. I may not have the financial ability to share greatly, but I do have time and effort that I can share and I have to be generous. It is not the substance of the gifts, but the attitude of the gift that means something and I have to remember that I am rich, at least rich in good works.

What do you provide for others as you walk through this world? Are you looking to be the one that provides monetarily and struggle with the amount you have and or can/will give? What if you realized that God provides for you to be rich and you can share your riches of good works with the world?

Give Mercy, Receive Mercy

I am sure that the saying, “it is better to give than receive” is one that most if not all have heard. Christmas is known as the giving season. With that in mind, my study this morning makes wonderful sense to me.

“⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 (ESV)

This morning I was brought again to “The Beatitudes” where I have studied a number of times. Specifically I was brought to the above as I am in a study of the word “mercy”. I see that in the verse, Jesus indicates that first we are to give mercy. In a society where blessing are celebrated through social media, Jesus tells me that the first step to receiving blessings is to give blessings to others.

Mercy does not seem much like a blessing to me. So I am to offer up the idea of not persecuting someone for what they have done to me or others? Well it seems as though it is a reward for bad behavior to give them a reprieve from the consequences of their actions. But that is not what Jesus is saying as I think about it. He is saying that I have to show them love and compassion, even in the midst of the bad actions they have embarked on.

“³⁴And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” — Luke 23:34 (ESV)

Those that commit the acts are still accountable for their committing them. They are still liable for the consequences of their actions and deeds. My role is not to condemn them as I am not to pass judgment, I am to love them and show them the compassion and mercy that comes only from God. Once I have given mercy, I have completed my role in the ordeal and I will move on to the next as God designs for me.

But, what shall I receive in return? I or someone was wronged and I offered up forgiveness and love and compassion and simply overlooked the action that was committed. Yes, I have, and does not forget me. See that is the purpose of this “Beatitude”, I am blessed by the Father thanks to my obedience and love and compassion and mercy. I have loved and the Father loves me back. I have given and I shall receive.

The LORD does not leave me out there to give and give and give without the benefit of that giving. The thing is, what I receive may not be what I want. I will receive love and compassion in return. I have sinned and will continue to do so. I have been receiving the love and compassion from the LORD for my entire life and this was my chance to give. I will continue receiving from my Savior and I should continue giving as He does.

I am not saying that there is some sort of quid pro quo in the realm of mercy. What I am say is that in following Jesus, I will be blessed for doing as He does and providing mercy to others. I will be blessed with mercy as I provide mercy for others.

What are your thoughts as relate to giving of mercy? Are you willing to give love and compassion to those who have done wrong with no expectation of any thing in return? What if we approached mercy from the perspective of giving, knowing that what we give we will also receive?