Mercy and Charity Beginning at Home.

 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. —1 Timothy 5:8

  To understand the topic better, I began to wander to other places in the Bible where it talks about giving, generosity, helping and being charitable to others. I also searched to whom we are supposed to be doing this for--and why. In this scripture search and made this discovery,

Matthew 15:1-  Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and your mother'; and, "He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, "Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"-- then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

         "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

  The interesting thing that stuck out in this passage was the sentence “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”

  We can go through the motions and claim we’re giving to God and still not be honoring God. How scary!

  How many of us pull out our money when the time comes for the Sunday morning Tithes and Offerings at our church and never think beyond the action of putting something in the plate? Is it because the schedule says Tithes and Offering in our program so we do it? Are we cheerfully giving to further the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Do we personally ask God to use what we give back to Him? Do we personally say thank you that we can give?

 

  I think of the place where Jesus observes the poor widow gave her two little coins and what Jesus teaches of her example. This widow woman gave from her heart, unlike the rich who gave for the tradition and visibility. Isn’t it awesome that God witnesses everything we give!

 

  Bill Gaither said, “Teach a man his rights, and you have a revolution. Teach a man his responsibility and you have a revival.”

 

Exactly.

 

Romans 12: 1.2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Christians Should Lead Transformed Lives