Giving to the Lord!

What is the proper amount to give to the Lord?  Tithing itself is an Old Testament idea, so how can the New Testament Church practice it?  These are some questions I often get from people.  Some want to satisfy their conscience by giving the bare minimum prescribed to the Lord, like paying the income tax!  There is another group of people who want to give and get back more from God!  Just like sowing and reaping, they want to give one hundred rupees and get back returns one hundred times more, as in a business operation!  I believe the question of giving to the Lord needs to be understood before we start giving. 

We can learn a few lessons about giving to the Lord from the life of David.  

In 2 Samuel 7, we read that David wanted to build the Lord a house of Cedar.  The Lord had instructed Moses to construct the Tabernacle as a place for His Presence, but the Lord never wanted a building for Himself.  But we find David wanting to build Him a house of Cedar! David was so moved with gratitude that he wanted to do much more than what was expected of him!  We read another incidence from David's life in 2 Samuel 24.  When David sinned by numbering his people, the Lord sent a plague upon Israel.  Later the Lord relented and restrained the angel by the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite.  Prophet Gad advised David to build an altar for the Lord at that site.  When David approached Araunah, Araunah offered to give David the place and the animal for free!  But David refused, saying, " I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (v24).   David did not want to give the Lord something that cost him nothing!  No wonder God called David a man after His own heart and blessed him abundantly!  

My friend, giving to the Lord is way more than just giving.  The Lord is not interested in our percentages or the amounts but in our hearts and the motive behind giving!  We cannot cover up our sins by offering more money to the Lord.  The Lord hates such offerings!  We cannot 'buy' blessing by giving money to the Lord.  Our lives and motives have to be acceptable to the Lord, and only then will He accept our sacrifices!  God loves a cheerful giver!

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