JUST DOING ME: Besides being immoral, according to some experts, selfishness interferes with our own psychological and physical well-being.  And as a matter of fact, some say that selfishness is the precursor to addiction. How, then, can we avoid this pitfall while making sure that we care for ourselves?

We are living in very challenging and stressful times in which possession, money, and wealth matter to all. However, if not careful, the pursuit of selfish desires will pull us away from what really matters, which is our relationship with God and one another. 

Satan uses the things of this world to tempt and lure us to him. However, the Word of God provides us with the guidance needed to avoid his trap. (Split)

In the Bible, God has provided us with practical guidance on how to live above the stresses of life, and we are given instructions on how to manage the resources He has given us. 

In this series,

From a biblical perspective, we are looking at how to manage effectively the resources God has given us while prioritizing What Really Matters.

Review any of our previous lessons @ SabbathSchoolDaily.com.

Also, you can obtain the study guide to these lessons @ Sabbath.School or ssnet.org

Asking For God’s Guidance

Holy Father, we are grateful for all the blessings and gifts you give us every day. Help us demonstrate our thankfulness in words and action by being faithful in giving offerings for your work and helping others according to our ability.  In Jesus’ Name Amen

Some researchers propose that our environmental problem is a product of selfishness. However, God has provided a remedy for selfishness. It is found in giving.

God specifically asks us to give Him back a tithe of what He has given us. We have learned that a tithe is 10% of all the money we get. If you earned $100.00 you return to God $10.00 before any government taxes are taken out of your earnings. We return tithe on our gross rather than our net. Then our debtors, such as the federal and local government, are paid out of the remaining 90%. 

Besides tithes, God expects us to give a liberal offering; however, He doesn’t tell us how much offering to give. The offering is what helps root out selfishness.

What standard does God give us to help us decide how much offering to give?

Deuteronomy 16:17 provides the answer.

17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. (Deuteronomy 16:17)

When it comes to offerings, God allows us to decide how much we will give. He does not establish a percentage for giving offerings. However, some decide that they will give a certain percentage of their increase in addition to the tithe as an offering.

Our offerings show that we thank God for His many gifts and blessings. They are an expression of our gratitude to God for His continuous blessings.

Thus as expressed in Deuteronomy 16:17, in terms of the offering, the amount we give is based on how much we are able to give. We give God as much as we can because of how much God blesses us.

This is what Jesus meant when he said in Luke 12:48

“ ‘For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required’ ” (Luke 12:48, NKJV).

For those still struggling with how much to give, King David in Psalm 116:12–14 reminds us that there is nothing we can give to God that equals what God has given us.

Psalms 116:12-14

12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?

13 I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people. (Psalms 116:12-14)

We can never repay God for all that he has given us. Besides all the resources he provides for us to live, He gave his only Son to save us.

Thus, in showing our gratitude, the best we can do once we return the tithe is to generously give as much as we can of that which remains to help sustain His work on this earth and to help others that are in need.

When Jesus sent out His followers (his disciples) to assist Him in his work, He told them in Mathew 10:8

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8)

There is a benefit to giving. What does giving do for us?

Our characters are changed, and we become more caring and loving. In other words, we become more like Jesus. Our minds are changed from selfishness to hearts filled with love. We become more concerned for others and the cause of God, just like Christ when he lived in our world.

God expects us, according to our ability, to give offerings to help support his work and he wants us, as we are able, to help others that are in need.

The one motivator for giving is always to remember John 3:16:

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world (God so loved you) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

The thing is:

We are indebted to the Lord for all we possess. Then let us return to the Giver all that He claims as His own. Let us not commit robbery toward God. (In Heavenly Places, p. 305)

Selfishness greatly affects our physical, mental, and psychological well-being.  When we refuse to give, we become more and more selfish. The more we refuse to give, the more selfish our hearts become. The more we hoard for ourselves, the more selfish we become. The more selfish we are, the more miserable we will feel.

But the choice of how we feel is up to us. God lets us decide how much to give and even where we will send our gifts of money.

But what is most important is that we remember that regardless of where we send our offerings and whatever amount we give, it is our duty as Christians to give an offering to the Lord.

The point is that when we fail to give God an offering, we hurt ourselves spiritually, and more than that, we also rob God of what belongs to Him. Our offerings and our attitude about giving say a lot about our relationship with God. How do you feel about giving?

Did you know that true worship isn’t just expressed in words, songs, and prayer but central to worship is bringing to God our tithes and offerings?  Find out more on Day 4: Offerings and Worship

If you want to return tithe and offering and do not have a church home, consider giving online,

@ Adventisgiving.org

 in the name of my local Church:

Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church 7902 Wheatly Street in Houston, TX 77088

Watch Past and Present Lessons @ SabbathSchoolDaily.com