Worship

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There is nothing we have that we did not receive. However we often forget this truth and end up being owned by what we have. God will test us time and time again until we are completely sold out to Him and rescued from our belongings. Anything that takes precedence in out lives becomes a god. (Ex.20:3) We may not see it that way, but that is how God sees them. And where God is number one, there is nothing He would ask of us that we would not release. The earth in all its fullness belongs to God (Ps24:1). Silver and God belongs to Him. (Hag 2:8) The cattle on the thousand hills belong to Him. (Ps.50:10) The sea is His and the mountain peaks belong to Him. His hands formed the dry land. (Ps95:4-5) This is the God who rained manna from heaven to feed the Israelites. He sustained them miraculously such that over a forty year period the shoes they wore grew with their feet. The clothes they had survived the years.

So why does God who owns everything want something from us?
The answer is that He sees our need ahead of their and is preparing us for a harvest. We may not see it that way when he comes to ask a seed from us, but that is in reality what it is. God requested Isaac from Abraham so as to provide a sacrificial Lamb in future. That lamb foreshadowed the Lamb of God that came to take away the sin of this world. By his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham was free from being a prisoner of what he owned and that pleased God.

Our giving is a form of worship and worship that is from the heart is true the worship. It must be out of willingness, obedience, gladness, and cheerfulness- out of gratitude to Him for the things He has done for us and for those yet in store.
David- the man after God’s own heart said, 24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.’ 2Sam24:24

It was costly for Abraham who had waited for 25 years for Isaac only to be told to go and sacrifice him to the Lord. But Abraham obeyed immediately and took his son, his only son, the son he loved and waited for so long for. what he was prepared to do can only be appreciated when we examine it in the light of the fact not only that he waited for long to have him but because he and Sarah had no other son.
Jesus saw many people giving in the temple but was touched by the old woman who gave her mite- all she had. He said she gave the most, made the greatest sacrifice, because she had nothing left. Her giving was costly, and that was why it counted so much.
42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark12:42-44)



Elijah was sent to the widow of Zarephat who had just some little flour and a jar of oil. She had planned to make a small dish for her and her son to eat and die; then enters the man of God who boldly tells her to bake him some cake first before thinking of herself and her son. He told her flour and oil will not fail until the rains come again. What she had was a seed. If she ate the seed she would have died with her son. She obeyed the man of God and God blessed her super abundantly more than she could ask, think or dream of. (1Kings 17:8-16) Her costly giving provoked the miracle of supply.
Paul commended the Macedonians in that ‘ Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.’ 2Cor.8:2-3 NIV

Let your gift to God whether in money or service or worship be a give that costs. The costlier it is, the greater the glory it will give to God and the greater the harvest it will bring back to you. It is the gift that costs that counts. Where God presides, God provides.

If God is asking a sacrificial giving from you today, be wise like Abraham and David. Give willingly, obediently, cheerfully and generously and you will be super –abundantly and mightily blessed more than you can ask or think or even dream of. Make room for your harvest. Prepare for the windows of heaven opening for you. (Mal.3:10) Prepare for double doors of the rain of provision. Give that boat like Peter and prepare for a net breaking catch. (Luke 5:1-7) God is no man’s debtor. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2Cor.9:8) He will rebuke the devourer for your sake. (Mal.3:11) As He remains, seed time and harvest time shall not fail in your life.


2006©Fenny West


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