A Tree by the River

Today, people not only want to conduct their lives according to their own plans, they want events to happen when they say they're going to happen. More and more, we see that people are becoming victims of their own impatience, their own lusts after the things they've seen on television, their own desires to order events to suit ungodly thoughts and purposes.

If you were to ask, most people would assure you they mean no evil intent. The fact that they pay exorbitant interest on their credit cards or their mortgages and pay no tithes or offerings to God doesn't seem evil or ungodly to them. If you were to suggest, however lovingly or gently, that accepting that next credit card and then that next one might be construed as sitting in the counsel of the ungodly, they would certainly be offended.

You might even go so far as to ask then, why they are not prospering. Those who cannot tithe, give offerings or give to the needs of others (even their own families) are not prosperous. By the world's standards, they might be called rich, but by God's standards they are not prosperous.

God's description of financial prosperity is closely related to physical prosperity as well as prosperity of the soul. God teaches us this in III John 2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

If you think of yourself as wealthy, ask yourself if you are wealthy by God's standards. Do you faithfully return God's 10 percent to his church for the purposes of saving souls from Hell and destruction, according to the scriptures in Malachi 3:8 and Deuteronomy 26? God asks, in Nehemiah 13:11 Why is the house of God forsaken?

Regarding offerings, we need to remember that God is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow and forever (Hebrews 13:8). One of God's very first Commands in Genesis 1:11 and Genesis 2:15-16 was that of seedtime and harvest. Everything that is planted will bring forth fruit and we may freely eat of that fruit, but we are to replant the seed. While a 10th portion of the profit we make of the fruits of our labors is the tithe, an additional amount given to God through prayerful consideration becomes our offering. The offering in turn becomes the seed planted which brings forth additional fruit.

Most people who would call themselves Christian consider that they are doing all that is necessary by "giving" a few dollars each Sunday. In this country today, more money is spent on dogfood each year than is given to the church for the purpose of saving people from eternal damnation in Hell. As far as I know, no statistics have been compiled regarding what people spend on the lottery or gambling as compared with what they return to God as tithes and offerings.

Occasionally, I am deeply moved by a movie or a book I have read which would not ordinarily be associated with my study and practice of God's Word. However, one scene in one movie which will forever haunt me is from the movie, "Schindler's List". At the end of the movie, many of the Jewish people Schindler was able to save got together to contribute what they were able for the purpose of giving a gift to Mr. Schindler to show their appreciation. They had nothing of worth except the fillings of gold from their own teeth. Those Jewish people sacrificed their own teeth to melt down the gold to make Mr. Schindler a ring. It was a moving scene, not because of the sacrifice those people had made, but because Schindler realized for the first time how much more he could have done. He was horrified that he had not been willing to give more although history tells us he virtually sacrificed his entire life to save those he could.

When the time comes, and you are standing victorious before God's throne, waiting for your crown of virtue; will you be satisfied with what you have done to bring as many with you as you could before God's presence, or will you be horrified to discover that you sacrificed the souls of so many you could have saved because it was more important to go on vacation every year or to drive the latest car or because you provided for all your wants by credit card and you willingly agreed to pay unreasonable interest.

In these last days, we need to carefully consider where we stand in God's plan. Have we given enough and done enough, to be satisfied that we have "run the race" and can joyfully receive that incorruptible crown ( I Corinthians 9:24-25)?

God has given us certain abilities and circumstances to use on His behalf. As in the parable of the wise and faithful servants (Matthew 25:14-30), God gave to each a certain amount and they returned to Him, not only what He had given but as much again. In other words, they used what God had given them according to His purposes and desires. Just as the tree planted by the rivers of living Water brings forth its fruit at the right time, we have been instructed to take what God has given us and use it, not to hide it away or to use for ungodly purposes, but to fearlessly and wisely employ the gifts we are given on His behalf. These gifts may be unexpected or overlooked, but they are gifts nevertheless.

Some examples of the gifts we are given which could be used to profit on God's behalf and which are usually wasted are:

• Time
• Talents
• Skills
• Education
• Generosity
• Love
• Creativity
• Strength
• Wisdom
• Words

The summarizing point of all this is to bring to our minds in what ways we might be compared or contrasted to that blessed tree in Psalm 1. Are we bringing forth the fruit God intended for us to bring forth, such as that fruit spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Obedience and Self-Control? Are we allowing ourselves to be guided and comforted by the Spirit of Truth - God's Holy Spirit? Do we use the gifts of the ministry God has given us, to become His apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11)? Do we forgive as we have promised we would each time we say the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-15)? Do we remember to forgive, to impart God's Grace and His Mercy?

These things may all seem to be a great deal to be responsible for, but when we keep ourselves nurtured by that river of living water, God's Word, we have all these gifts and abilities and blessings made available to us to use on God's behalf. For a life of prosperity, health and happiness, wholeness and peace, we need to let ourselves become like that tree in Psalms I. Then we will bring forth our fruit in due season; we shall remain strong and not wither, able to receive the rain of God's annointing, and whatever we do will prosper until that time when we can present ourselves to God as His faithful servants and He can say to us,

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

By the Holy Spirit and to the Glory of God,

Merrellee Moore - 9/5/1999