Getting Scared or Getting Ready?

    Things are looking pretty scary. If you are even a casual student of the Bible, you are aware that in the end times, around the world and particularly in the mideast, events will unfold much like we are currently observing.
    If you know me at all, you know I am not an alarmist. And I’m pretty skeptical of those guys on TV and radio who make a living on convincing their audience that the world is on the brink of Armageddon. (Then the audience in turn sends them a bunch of money….for some reason.)
    But putting aside the abusive and manipulative tactics of those I would call alarmists, Jesus did tell us to pay attention to what is happening in our world. And the Bible does tell us that Israel will become an island, surrounded by enemy nations that will make war with her with the intent to destroy her and annihilate the population. And we are also told that the frequency and destructive nature of natural disasters will increase. Then when I consider Daniel’s prophecy that in the end times, knowledge will increase (that’s an understatement for today!) and world travel will be common, I can’t help but believe the end is near.
    I know, everyone in their time thought that. And I’m not going to set any dates or point fingers at possible candidates for the Anti-Christ. But the end IS near! Jesus told us to watch. Are you?
    In reality, He was more concerned that we watch our selves, more so than world events. But the world events were to remind us to watch ourselves. Jesus wants us to not be caught off guard. He wants us to be ready.
    Are you? Are you ready for His return?
    I don’t know when Jesus will return, or when Armageddon will take place, or the rapture, or any of these things. I know what the Bible says about the events of the end times, and I know about the signs. And a lot of those signs appear to be there now. But Jesus may delay his coming a hundred or a thousand years. For us, we need to be ready, today, tomorrow, next week and next year.
    One teacher decided to encourage her students to better organize their desks and to keep them neat. She invited the principal to be in on her plan, and announced to the class that he will come in once a week and inspect their desks. Everyone with a clean desk would be dismissed for recess five minutes early that day.
    One boy announced that he would clean his desk first thing every morning. The teacher asked, “What if he comes at the end of the day?” He said that he would clean it again before school let out. She responded, “What if he comes during lunch?”
    “I guess I’ll clean it up now and keep it clean all day, every day!”
    That was Jesus’ point when He said, “You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected” (Matthew 24:44).
    The end is near. Get ready!

A Neglected Aspect of Worship

    Stuart Briscoe shared the following account in his book, Playing by the Rules: "I visited a church in Florida, where the congregation had just built a new auditorium that cost $5 or $6 million. With great glee the people told me they had moved in debt free; they had paid for it in cash before they opened the doors. When I asked how they had done it, they told me, "Part of our membership requirement is that people tithe." Then they took me outside and showed me a three-or four-story, $11 million educational wing they had begun to build. Again they told me they’d paid cash for it. How did they do it? By tithing."
    The average church is handicapped because God’s people have forgotten Who’s money it really is. It’s like the story of one preacher who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets." Too many believers have God’s money in their pockets and not only are they being disobedient, they are missing out on the blessing of giving.
    Please don’t give with just with the goal of meeting our church’s budget, because budgets don’t really mean that much. Giving has a deeper purpose; it means you give to God, you don’t rob from Him. When you give to God, you honor Him. You say, "Hey, God, all my money is in trust from You anyway, and I give it back to You with a glad heart." Through our giving we show we’re on His side and that we have compassion for the things and people He has compassion for. We prove our love for Him by giving of ourselves.
    But what if we don’t give faithfully, what if we tip God rather than truly give? What if we keep what belongs to Him for ourselves? That may result from an attitude of first rate stinginess, or maybe it comes from second-rate sacrifice. Malachi warned his people, "Some of you are bringing your offerings to the Lord, and you’ve got to bring a lamb. So you go through the flock and find one that’s lame or blind, and you bring that. Do that to the governor, and see what he’d say! You wouldn’t dare do it to him, but you don’t mind doing it to God."
    Strange, isn’t it, that people feel very comfortable with first-rate stinginess and second-rate sacrifice when it comes to God? Why? Because they lack a reality of the knowledge of God in their lives.
    If you really believe that God purchased you from the slave market of sin. If you really know how much He loves you. If you believe that you are a steward of His property, rather than an owner – you’ll be the giver that God wants you to be.
    The reason that so many Christians are such poor givers is that they really don’t believe God’s Word. If they believed the Bible, It would change their behavior...and it would change their giving. God is generous and those who have His heart are generous too.
    What does your giving say about your heart? Is this an area that needs to be surrendered and that you need to grow in? Then, today’s your day. Don’t miss out on the blessings and rewards that God has for faithful stewards!