“When Moses finished setting up the Holy Tent, he gave it for service to the Lord by pouring olive oil on the Tent and on everything used in it. He also poured oil on the altar and all its tools to prepare them for service to the Lord.”

“Then the leaders of Israel made offerings. These were the heads of the families, the leaders of each tribe who counted the people.”

“They brought to the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—each leader giving an ox, and every two leaders giving a cart. They brought these to the Holy Tent.”

“The Lord said to Moses, “Accept these gifts from the leaders and use them in the work of the Meeting Tent. Give them to the Levites as they need them.” So Moses accepted the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, which they needed for their work. Then Moses gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, which they needed for their work. Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest, directed the work of all of them. Moses did not give any oxen or carts to the Kohathites, because their job was to carry the holy things on their shoulders. When the oil was poured on the altar, the leaders brought their offerings to it to give it to the Lord’s service; they presented them in front of the altar. The Lord told Moses, “Each day one leader must bring his gift to make the altar ready for service to me.””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬-‭11‬ ‭NCV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/105/num.7.4-11.NCV

How would your gifts stack up against the offerings of the tribal leaders of Israel?

In Old Testament days, giving was fairly simple. The gifts were to be brought to the tabernacle (and later, the temple) where they would be administered by the Levites and priests. As Christians, that means giving 10 percent to the church they attend and giving additional offerings to other organizations as they are able and feel prompted by God.

It’s important to remember that we do not give to the church but rather we give to God through the church. We do not give to Christian organizations but rather give to God through Christian organizations.

Christians who recognize that everything we have is a gift from God express this reality by giving out of what we have received. Such giving is an expression of gratitude. The amount we give and the channels through which we direct our giving will vary, but the attitude is always the same: “Thank You, Father, for Your goodness to us.”

Thank God for His goodness to you and your family. Name specific areas in which you’ve been especially blessed recently. Ask the Lord to help you model an attitude of giving for your kids to follow.

Reflect on these questions:

What does your attitude toward giving say about your relationship with God?

What have your kids (or other family members) learned from your example of giving?

If you wanted to change the example you set, what area of giving would you need to work on first?

Consider these passages for further study on Tithing:

Genesis 28:20-22

“Then Jacob made a promise. He said, “I want God to be with me and to protect me on this journey. I want him to give me food to eat and clothes to wear so I will be able to return in peace to my father’s house. If the Lord does these things, he will be my God. This stone which I have set up on its end will be the house of God. And I will give God one-tenth of all he gives me.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NCV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/105/gen.28.20-22.NCV

Leviticus 27:30

““ ‘One-tenth of all crops belongs to the Lord, including the crops from fields and the fruit from trees. That one-tenth is holy to the Lord.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭27‬:‭30‬ ‭NCV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/105/lev.27.30.NCV

Malachi 3:6-10

““I the Lord do not change. So you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. Since the time of your ancestors, you have disobeyed my rules and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord All-Powerful. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’ “Should a person rob God? But you are robbing me. “You ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ “You have robbed me in your offerings and the tenth of your crops. So a curse is on you because the whole nation has robbed me. Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord All-Powerful. “I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭NCV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/105/mal.3.6-9.NCV

It’s an attitude that we can see around us to do the right thing toward giving. Great thoughts and guidance from Gary Chapman. Have the plan to keep growing with Christ and it shows in our giving.

Most wedding ceremonies include the giving and receiving of rings. The pastor says, “These rings are outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual bond that unites your two hearts in love that has no end.”

Visual symbols of love are more important to some people than to others. That’s why individuals have different attitudes toward wedding rings. Some never take the ring off. Others seldom wear their wedding band. This often correlates to love language. If receiving gifts is your primary love language, you’ll place great value on your wedding ring, and you may be hurt if your spouse doesn’t feel the same way. Also, you’ll be emotionally moved by other gifts your spouse gives you because you’ll see them as expressions of love. Without gifts as visual symbols, you may question your spouse’s love.

Likewise, if your husband or wife seems deeply hurt when you forget to give a birthday gift, you can know that his or her love language is receiving gifts. Speak that language, and keep your loved one’s love tank full.

Take time to thank God for the variety of His creation, specifically the different love languages He’s given you. Ask Him to bless your efforts to communicate your love for each other and those around you.

Reflect on these questions:

1. How do you feel when someone gives you a specially chosen gift? Why?

2. What are the most meaningful gifts you’ve ever given each other? What made them so meaningful?

3. What does a wedding ring mean to you?

Consider these passages for further study on Gift Giving:

Luke 6:38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and pouring into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

2 Corinthians 9:10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then breads to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Leviticus 23:1-44. Leviticus 23 tells how the Lord established five holy times when all of Israel was to make a special effort to be holy and draw closer to him. These times were on the Sabbath (see vv. 1–3); at the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, or Passover (see vv. 4–14); at the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.

I was looking at the different values of gifts. Know the real reason and why one gives. Respect where everyone is and lift them up. You can show love in your way.

If you’re to become an effective gift giver, you may have to change your attitude about money. Some of us have a spending orientation. We feel good about ourselves when we’re spending money. Others have a saving and investing perspective. We feel good when we’re saving money and investing it wisely.

If you’re a spender, you will have little difficulty purchasing gifts for your spouse; but if you’re a saver, you will experience emotional resistance to the idea of spending money as an expression of love. You don’t purchase things for yourself; why should you purchase things for your spouse? But that attitude fails to recognize that you are indeed purchasing things for yourself.

You are investing in your relationship and filling your spouse’s emotional love tank. With a full tank, he or she will likely reciprocate emotional love to you in a language you will understand. When both persons’ emotional needs are met, your relationship will take on a whole new dimension.

Take time to pray individually or together thanking God for the monetary blessings He has given you. Confess times when you misused your blessings. Ask Him to guide your decision-making as you invest in your relationship.

If you have more time, discuss or reflect on these questions:

Consider these passages for further study on Gift Giving:

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.

2 Corinthians 9:6  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

When giving, it’s best to support your local congregation. Here is mine, and they have a way online to give. Also, participation in local charities like helping children with their essentials like underwear and socks.

Here is a way this month to give by purchasing through our Amazon gift link or Avon Fundraiser HERE.

How do you feel when you give and make a wise investment?

Loving God is often expressed by meeting the physical needs of other people: food, drink, clothing, and shelter. Nothing delights some givers more than to be the channel of meeting the physical needs of others. When the local food pantry makes its annual plea for food for the needy, those people are among the first to respond. When a local radio station calls for contributions to help those who live in flooded areas, they are the first to offer clothing and other practical items. When natural disasters or humanitarian crises strike abroad, these givers feel stirred to meet urgent physical needs. In fact, these givers seem to be the very “salty,” peace-loving characters Jesus praises (Mark 9:50). “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

Take time to pray asking God…

• To open your eyes to the very real, physical needs of those around you;
• To grow you in the grace of giving.

Discuss and reflect:

What kinds of giving opportunities appeal to you? What needs stir your compassion?

Why do you think a cup of cold water seems small in our eyes yet is significant in God’s eyes?

Jesus commands, “You must have the qualities off salt among yourselves and live in the peace with each other.” (Mark 950). To what extent does that describe you?

Consider these passages for further study on Giving:

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. ⁸ Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. ⁹ Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. ¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

2 Corinthians 8:7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you^[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Mark 9:38-50

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. ^{[44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ^{[46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’^[c]

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

I am not the best gift giver in the world, yet this lesson does help you think about ways to be more open and listen to each others needs and be ready to give where they need it the most with your talents.

We all have the gift of giving and should bless others as we are able.

Another devotional thought by Gary Chapman. The smallest gift I feel like I have given is a smile, yet too many, I have given that too is one of the biggest gifts to them they have received in a while. What are you giving today?