A Closer Walk

We are in the time of year that the accounting profession refers to as, “Tax Season.” Last week in this space we discussed rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's. And that we should do. This week let's discuss rendering unto God what is God's.
Now, Caesar (the government) knows that most people won't set aside what will be required on tax day, as some people call it. So our Congress passed laws that allow our employers to withhold a prescribed amount from our paychecks and the employers will in turn send what is withheld to the government. So when we settle up on tax day we aren't burdened with coming up with the amount we would owe for the entire year. Instead, some will get a refund, others will need to pay in, but the ones who do pay in will pay a smaller amount than the whole year's tax bill.
But after this obligation is met what do we do with what is left? “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine,” Proverbs 3:9-10 KJV. We should honor the Lord with our substance (wealth, possessions, finances). How do we do that? Remember that income is used to provide for current needs, while at the same time something should be set aside out of income to provide for future needs. Income and wealth ( our nest egg) are to be used to provide for ourselves (both present and future selves), and to further the Kingdom of God. Furthering God's Kingdom also includes helping our fellow man when appropriate.
Honor the Lord with our substance. As we try to live in a Godly manner so we should try to use our substance in a Godly manner. Serving and helping. Helping and serving. Where does this income or wealth come from? “Blessed art Thou, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O LORD, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name,'” 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 NASB. Both riches and honor come from our God. So when we give we are merely returning to God a portion of what He has already given us.
Our Great Provider equips us with the resources we may need to carry out His desire as we give and help. This God, our God, is able to bring people, situations, and circumstances to our attention or across our path. And our Lord is able and willing to offer guidance to us for the steps that are ahead of us. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 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...Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 and 10 KJV.
As we sow (give) we reap (harvest). If a farmer plants one wheat seed in an acre of his land the best he can hope for is one wheat plant and the kernels it may produce. If the same farmer plants thousands upon thousands of seeds on the same acre he can reasonably hope for a good crop, perhaps even a bountiful harvest. So it is with us. He who provides seed to the sower, our God, makes provision for us to have sufficiency for every good work. In other words, we will have enough to give or help where our God desires us to. Further, He will provide the opportunities for us to sow even more to other people, other places, other situations, and other circumstances. Why? To increase the fruits of our righteousness. The honor and glory go to our God who started this whole process in the first place.
Now we obviously can't support the whole world by ourselves. But as the quote from 2 Corinthians above states, we are to give as we purpose in our hearts. As our Heavenly Father brings opportunities across our path we utilize our spiritual discernment to help us determine if our Lord wishes for us to offer our support for this particular person or charity. Time spent at the Throne of Grace would not be wasted during this discernment period. So give joyfully. And not grudgingly. For our God loves a cheerful giver. And render unto God what is God's.
“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return,” Luke 6:38 NASB.