“Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written: “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-9 NASB)
A lot of things happened last week that really impressed me! One thing that happened stood out in particular. Was it the work of faithful church members to purge the Educational Center and the Church edifice, showing that they had learned to use the 5S principles of there is a specific place for everything and every specific thing has a place, sorting by removing everything unnecessary, and setting in order the things we decided to keep? That was impressive indeed, but that was not the top thing that impressed me. Was it sitting back in a pulpit chair watching my oldest son who will take over the pastorate in 2025 being used by God, powerfully so, to proclaim and explain the word of God? That was impressive, especially when I heard repetitively the words “In the text” and “In context.” That was surely impressive, but that was not the top happening that impressed me. Well, was it the fact that it was announced that our congregation will pay off the mortgage on our three-acre property at our church, validating the biblical truth, you can take small means and achieve great results through faith? Definitely that was impressive, Yet, still, that was not the top happening that impressed me.
So, you are reading and probably asking, patiently, “Well! What was it?” The happening that impressed me most was hearing about three young elementary girls who attend our church faithfully, how they raised over $150 at a lemonade stand in setup in their grandmother’s front yard. The stand was beautiful, constructed by their uncle, painted lemonade-yellow to stand out. The girls made more money than many of the area garage sales. That I’m almost positive about. But let me get really down to the most impressive happening stemming from the girl’s lemonade stand entrepreneurship. One of the girls who will be going into the third-grade next year said, “We are going to have to pay our tithes off this money tomorrow.” Wow! Wow! Weren’t those great words coming out of the mouth of a child! That was the most impressive happening that happens to send a lesson to all of us.
Yes, in addition to being impressive, it was instructive, as this child reinforced the scripture below. Oh, before I close, let me send out some “Great Job” kudos to their kin folk, kind grandmother and Sunday School teachers who taught them about tithing. Now, read the verse below. I never beg for money, but I need to reinforce that tithing is still applicable today. Before you read the closing verse, go back up to the top and read the opening verses. Have a tremendously favored by God Thursday! Be blessed!
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” (Malachi 3:10 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King