What have you given? (Numbers 7)

“And they brought their offerings before the Lord…” Numbers 7:3

Two older guys were sitting at a table drinking coffee and they talked.  Someone at another table overheard their conversation.  One guy, asked the other guy, “how much do you give to the offering each week at church?”  The guy responded, “The Bible says, do not let your left hand know what you right hand is giving.”  The other guy quickly responded, “no more than you usually give, it will not make a difference.”

This morning we focus on one chapter in the book of Numbers.  A chapter with 89 verses.  It would seem as if Moses was simply copying and pasting the same offering for each tribe.  One might even wonder, “What is the importance of this?”  The fact is, God is very much interested in every part of our service to Him.”

These listings of gifts remind us of the following:

• God deserves our best.  We are to never give Him our leftovers.
• God has given us His best in the coming of Jesus Christ, II Corinthians 8:9
• God delights in our best.  II Corinthians 9:6-7
• God rewards those who give their best.  Here we see their names listed in His Holy Word!!

Question:  “What have you given?”  Has it been your best?  Often, we intend to give our best, but we get caught up in all the things we give ourselves and there is nothing left over.

Allow me to challenge you to rearrange how you budget what God has given you. Begin each month with first giving to God what He deserves.  Then make it a priority to buy the things that are necessities.  Finally save a percentage so that you can give to those things God places in your path.

If you follow this plan, You will be able to respond to the question, “What do people give,” with the following, “I give my best to the Lord.”

For further study consider II Corinthians 8-9.