An Offertory Devotional video for Sabbath, August 6, 2022, in your @adventistchurch: vimeo.com/716540762. Putting God first can be difficult. What can we learn from this video that will help us put God first in our lives today?
Also available in #Spanish and #Portuguese.
Put #GodFirst
#StewardshipMinistries
------------------------------------------------------------
For more information on the Stewardship Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, you can head over to stewardship.adventist.org/ ______________________________________________
Our generosity is inspired by God’s generosity. In preparation for the construction of the
temple, the Bible reports on the generosity of Israel. First, King David gave lavishly out
of his personal treasures. Then the other leaders gave willingly, following his example.
Inspired by their leaders, the rest of the people gave “freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord”
(verse 9). Seeing such an expression of generosity, David burst into praise and mentioned the
factor driving such a profusion in giving: “Everything comes from you, and we have given you
only what comes from your hand.” David gave as a response to what God had already provided:
election, forgiveness, presence, promises, and abundance. No one can outgive God. Even if
someone chooses to give everything, God has all the means to replenish that person’s resources.
This was the mindset of David, a leader-giver in Israel.
Abraham, a Masai man, had a similar mindset. He was the owner of 1,000 head of cattle
and large herds of sheep and goats. Acknowledging that God was the source of his blessings,
he decided to be faithful to God. He placed his cattle in large pens and counted them as
they walked through a chute. Abraham dedicated each tenth cow as tithe for God. His friends
and acquaintances were amazed. In their culture, people’s wealth is measured in cattle. One
doesn’t just give away their cows! They began to mock him, and many people declared him
to be crazy. But the laughter abruptly stopped nine months later when 40 of Abraham’s cows
gave birth to twins! In addition, many of his goats and sheep birthed triplets!
“Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Num. 23:19). This
week, as we worship with our tithe and regular offerings, called Promise, let us reflect on the
truthfulness of these words in our own life