Why the best?
Why does God ask for an animal which has nothing wrong with it? Why not any animal?
God is worthy of the best and when I give to Him the best - which is also the first - I am declaring that before I take care of anything else, I will worship and give to God. When I do that, I am also trusting that He will take care of me with the rest.
NOT giving God the best and first is giving God something less than the best and giving Him leftovers. It's taking care of other things meaning other things have a higher priority than God.
Too often in our culture, what I give God or when I give to God, it is often taken out of what's left AFTER I pay everything else. This is not giving God the best or the first. It is also not trusting Him to take care of me as He promises. The reality of this is that most of the time there is not much left - if any. Or I take what's left and use it for a movie or going out to eat. Leaving nothing "left" to give God. So I conclude (if I am even thinking about it) that I will give to God next pay check. But what happened with this pay check happens again with the next one.
Tithing/giving is one of the most if not the most difficult discipline to carry out. It is an act against reason and common sense. But that is why it is a step of faith and indicates my level of trust in my heavenly Father to take care of me.
The bottom line? Next time I get paid, the first thing to do is write a check out to Meadow for 10% of my gross pay. Before I pay anything else...utilities, mortgage, groceries, gas, etc....I will write out and give God the best and first. Then trust Him to take care of me with the rest.
Giving God the first and best demonstrates His place in my life. Giving to God out of leftovers does the same. How I give proves God's priority in my life.
Created over 1 year ago
