Marriage

(continued on marriage)Now it's time for the last principle of giving, ALMS. This type of giving is emphasized in the Sermon On The Mount specifically Matt 6:1-4. There are several points we can derive from this; don't do them before others if your to receive a reward, don't make a big deal about it for when you do you'll have your reward and become a hypocrite, when you do your alms do it secretly and quietly so that the Father in heaven that sees in secret will then reward you openly. The beginning of this verse is with an expectation, not an IF but WHEN. A Godly home will have an alms giving established. The best definition is in Luke 11:41, "But rather give alms of such things as ye have", and also 12:23 "sell that ye have, and give alms," and by doing so you will continually have something to give, a treasure in heaven that cannot fail, thieves cannot reach it and it will not corrupt. The implication is not to wait until you have plenty but do it with use what you have now. What rewards, not only obedience but the blessings that God has promised. Alms are; money, meals, clothing, provisions for a need and no one knows where it came from! Filling someone's freezer with meat, bags of groceries, providing transportation, paying someone's bill all anonymously! Look at Cornelius in Acts 10:1-4 "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people", vs4 "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." God remembers these gifts! This should be something that goes on regularly in a Godly home. Father, mother, children should always be looking for someone and something to give. Tithing, offerings and alms will always be a part of a Godly home!!! YOU CANT OUT GIVE THE LORD NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.

Marriage

(continued on marriage)The next is offering, the definition of an offering is"a present, especially in sacrifice", dictionary says

"anything offered as a gift." We are so accustomed to our dollar or two in the Sunday school or our traditional "penny march" that we have lost the meaning. Let's not forget that this discourse is about the home and our homes cannot be structured financially correct unless these principles are alive there. We have eight adult children and twenty-four(almost 25) grandchildren, and when we are privileged to be in service with them(grands), as offering time comes they are standing with their hands out. Our purpose and their parents in teaching them is its time for a gift to God. They all are in a conservative church on Sunday morning, their health is good, they have quality jobs so why shouldnt we be liberal in our offerings? We should offer these gifts: revivals, Sunday school, missions, building projects , needs for the church or other projects for the kingdom of God with an attitude THESE ARE A GIFT TO GOD! It doesn't matter if we are rewarded by God materially or financially it is a gift. Too many of our homes are not teaching by example this aspect of giving. What rewards do come, spiritual, material, financial when we have structured our finances Gods way.

Marriage

(continued on marriage)Part of this keeping the home has to do with your money. Managing your finance's is a biblical command as well as a principle of Christianity. The philosophy of the day is buy now and pay later.(lust, covetousness, etc)Manage what you have been entrusted with by God. 1Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." A steward is defined as a manager also in Matthew 6:33 "...seek ye first..", the word "seek" is manage. My wife and I homeschooled our eight children and incorporated in that a budgeting program. We let our children pay our monthly bills(under supervision) so that when they went into their life there was a realization of the demands financially. The priorities set were the biblical ones, tithing, offerings, and alms. Tithing is simple, if you have ten dollars one belongs to God! This principle is all through the Word of God starting in Genesis through Revelation. This is more than Old Testament law, it is a New Testament principle. It carries with it the principle of accountability, "I didn't get or earn this myself, God permitted and blessed me with the ability, wisdom, health to earn it." It is a privilege to bring this to God. Malachi 3:10 "BRING ye all the tithes", notice the emphasis on BRING! The first thing that comes from "my blessing" is my tithe, because I am recognizing God in my gain! The promises are great-windows that were shut are now opened, blessings that were withheld are now being poured out without measure, the devourer shall be rebuked, that which you have sown(worked for) will reproduce timely, people will see your blessed, and you will be "delightsome"(valuable, pleasure)to those around you!

  Can you imagine gettin to heaven and saying, "WHEW, IM SURE GLAD I DIDN'T TITHE!"