Scripture
Priests, put on black clothes and sob. Cry, you who serve at the altar. Come, you who serve my God in the temple. Spend the night dressed in black clothes. Sob because no one brings grain offerings and drink offerings to the house of your God anymore.
~Joel 1:13, NIrV
Quote
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give that gift away.”
~Pablo Picasso
The book of Joel describes in detail a locust invasion. These destructive insects traveled in swamps of billions. One locust would not be noticed but put billions together and they make an eery sound when they fly. They form a huge black cloud that can eclispe the sun. When they land, they march like an army and they don’t leave anything behind. It is total devastation. They get every blade of grass, every plant, every leaf on every tree and even the bark on the trees. A locust invasion is worse than a fire. Following the invasion, you have draught, famine and pestilence.
The ancient Israelites worshipped through the sacrificial system. Common people did not have silver and gold but they could bring grain, produce, wine or animals to the Tabernacle to sacrifice. The Levites lived off of these sacrifical gifts. The locust invasion left the Israelites with nothing to give. They could not bring a grain offering, there was no grain. They wanted to give but had nothing to give.
This reminds us of our great priviledge in the matter of giving. David said in I Chronicles 29:14, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!” In verse 16 of this same chapter David acknowledges two basic truths of good stewardship: [1] Everything belongs to God and [2] Every thing comes from God and this includes the breath in your lungs. Giving is the privilege of the blessed.
Did you know that in the early days of our great Republic it was the priviledged who paid the taxes. The common people didn’t have enough to pay taxes, they did will to survive off of the land. The merchants, nobles and bussinessmen paid the taxes and they were considered a priviledged class. Solomon did not have to raise money to build the Temple, David donated 110 tons of gold himself but he also encouraged all the leaders to give. His leaders gave 190 tons of gold, 380 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze and 3,800 tons of iron.
I am not advocating the exemption of poor people but you cannot give what you do not have. When God blesses us, we have the opportunity to bless others. When June and I first started out, our annual tithe was less than a $1,000 but over the years God has blessed us and enabled us to give much more. It is a wonderful priviledge that I appreciate. I thank God daily that He has enabled me to give. What a priviledge! Have you thanked HIM lately for the priviledge of giving.
- Pray for our Church Revival also…November 6-9 with Wade Morris
- Pray for Bill Harrison {Vanderbilt}
- Another good GATHERING with 121 in attendance. It should be 221 or 321 but it would take geniune REVIVAL for that to happen. If you were in attendance last night, you know why we don’t have prayer meetings on Wednesday night. Another indication of how desperate our need is for REVIVAL.
- Huge weekend coming up for me: two sermons on Sunday and one on Monday. This Sunday is my last Marathon Sunday. My schedule gets reduced as we move into the holidays. Full schedule this week including Deacon’s meeting at 8:15.
- We got a brief shower at the church this morning. It did wet the pavement but at least it was something. The temperture is still warm and that needs to drop for us to get any measurable percipitation. We continue to be hopeful.
- Job 40:10…Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty. In autumn, God adorns Himself in majesty, splendor, glory and beauty…just look at these slides taken by profession photographers.
