Monday's Meditation - February 28, 2011- The Giver's Love

It was February of 1999. For several months, I had shared a series of instructional thoughts on giving with my local church congregation just prior to the collection of the offering during Sunday worship service. As I sought the Lord for guidance concerning what to share for the upcoming Sunday, I was drawn to the spiritual symbolism embedded in our Valentine’s Day tradition. A clear and simple principle emerged. Love gives.

In today’s episode, we begin to affirm the importance of what the gift reveals, even though God is actually interested in more than the gift itself.

I invite you to receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.

The full audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.


Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.


Keep praying with us!

Monday's Meditation -February 21, 2011 - The Gift and The Giver's Faith

There is a big difference between talking about faith and applying it. If God gave a college class in faith, it would be entitled "Applied Faith" rather than "Faith Theory". God wants faith working in every aspect of our relationship, even in our giving. As Hebrews 11: 6&7 remind us: without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

In today's podcast episode we continue to examine why I believe that even though God gives us scriptural instruction to give offertory gifts, He is actually interested in more than the gift itself.

Receive Monday's Meditation as "food for thought" for the week, then let it become "fuel for action" for the weekend and beyond!

The full podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.

Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.


Keep praying with us!

Monday's Meditation - February 14, 2001 - God's Interest In More Than The Giver's Hand

God is spirit. He has no temporal needs. God is the creator, sustainer and owner of all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. His ownership has not diminished with time. His wealth is immeasurable. Yet, He still asks for our gifts. What could God possibly be seeking from us?

In today's podcast episode we continue to examine why I believe that even though God gives us scriptural instruction to give offertory gifts, He is actually interested in more than the gift itself

Receive Monday's Meditation as "food for thought" for the week, then let it become "fuel for action" for the weekend and beyond!

The full audio podcast is available on my website and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.

Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.


Keep praying with us!

Tithing Times 10

Through the messages of the More Than The Gift Ministry, I've tried to redirect our focus away from arguing over tithing. It saddens me that we often fail to see the irony in trying to benchmark how little we can give to the God of the universe, the Great I Am, our Lord and Savior. Today's sermon at my church (Wheaton Bible Church) centered on Ephesians 5: 1 &2. As Pastor Bugh touched on these verses this morning, the core message of my ministry kept resonating within my soul. God desires more than a tenth and more than a material gift. He desires that we would give our total selves back to Him as an act of love. He leads by example and asks that His beloved children would follow that lead by mimicking the actions of His Son. The ESV translations of these scriptures read:

Ephesians 5:

1) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2) And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

He gave Himself up for us because He loves us. The question each of us must answer is whether we love Him enough to give ourselves back to Him in return.

Prayer Request

A few weeks ago, I heard a brief discussion on offertory giving on a morning Christian radio show. The host seemed a little frustrated by the divergent positions taken by the different guests that had appeared on his show over time. As you probably know by now, I believe that the messages God has given me help harmonize some of the divergent views. I felt led to share a copy of my Internet Bible Study entitled "God's Plan For The Financial Support of His Ministry". I sent it to the show by email. I wasn't motivated by self-promotion. I simply wanted to bless the host. I knew my email would be screened and might never get to the host but I felt led to send it anyway.

Last week I received a response from a staff assistant acknowledging receipt of the material, thanking me for it and promising to pass it along to the entire team. So, I solicit your prayers that this excerpt will be a blessing to the staff members of that show.

Monday's Meditation - February 7, 2011 - God's Interest In The Giver's Relationship With Others

It is interesting to note that God often assesses our giving by first assessing the condition of our human relationships. While we focus on our gift, He chooses to examine how we are treating one another. Even the earliest scriptural account of giving (the story of Cain & Abel) speaks not only to the issue of the acceptability of Cain’s offering but also to issues involving Cain’s relationship with God and Cain’s relationship with Abel. How revealing it is that in a story about giving, Cain asks the eternal question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The fact is that while we may desire for our giving to be viewed and judged as an independent spiritual activity, God refuses to do so and He purposefully keeps Cain’s question ever before us even while we give.

In today’s podcast episode, we continue to examine why I believe that even though God gives us scriptural instructions to give offertory gifts, He is actually interested in more than the gift itself.

Receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.

The full audio podcast is available on my website and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.

Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.


Keep praying with us!

Internet Bible Study - February 2011 - God's Plan In Action

While the workers and work of the ministry are beneficiaries of the tangible substance of offertory giving, its full impact is intended by God to be more far reaching. The benefit is intended to be reciprocal. An examination of the Biblical account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath demonstrates how God uses giving to establish a relationship of mutual benefit between His ministry and the recipients of ministry efforts.

Reference Scripture:
1 Kings 17: 1 – 23 ( Elijah and the widow)
Supporting Scriptures:
Luke 12: 15 – 21 (Rich fool)
Luke 10: 1 – 9 ( Jesus send the 72, take no purse, eat what they give you)

Click on the link to the Internet Bible Study to review the full text of the lesson. The link is contained in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

Don't study alone. This is the worldwide web. Invite a family member, friend, someone from another state or another country to join you.

Monday's Meditation - January 31, 2011 - God's Interest In The Giver's Relationship With Him

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question, Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment (Matt. 22: 35-38). In this response to a question from the crowd, Jesus establishes that our highest pursuit is our love relationship with the Father. All other requirements flow from the pursuit of that relationship, even our giving.

In today’s episode, we continue to examine why I believe that even though God gives us scriptural instructions to give offertory gifts, He is actually interested in more than the gift itself.

Receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.

The full audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.


Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.


Keep praying with us!

A Lesson For Church Leaders

There is a lesson in the workbook that discusses the corporate giving of the church. I've decided to add this lesson as a permanent page on my website. It's message is a needed compliment to my messages regarding individual giving. An introduction to this lesson follows below but the balance appears on my website.

Scriptural guidance regarding giving is not limited to instructions for individual believers. It also extends to the corporate body, His church. I have come to realize that the church is not simply a receiver of significant resources but it is also a giver of resources as well. For many churches, the requests for resources constantly challenge the limits of the available supply. As a former Budget Chairperson for a local church, I became aware of the challenge to faith experienced by local church leaders as they seek to fund ministry initiatives from the limited resources of their “storehouse”. Yet, I believe that God’s instructions are just as applicable to the corporate church as they are to the individual members. God has a word for His church and its leaders, not just for the individual members. So, let us examine some guidance for local church leaders that reflects the old adage” what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”.

If the individual is called to give in faith in spite of their apparent lack, then what about the church? Is there some scriptural justification for only requiring faith to be exhibited by individual members but not the church itself? Is it somehow O.K. for the widows in scripture to sow their last into ministry but for the church to be afraid to do so? No, the church is called to exemplify God-led, faith-based giving as well.

Consistency between the principles applicable to the individual and the collective body is appropriate. I would find it difficult to reconcile a church financial philosophy that viewed as good financial stewardship (at the church level) actions that would be characterized as a lack of faith and disobedience at the individual level. Thanks to our Lord, for illustrating the synthesis of individual and corporate God-led, faith-based giving so that we have a clear path to follow. The illustration occurs in our reference scripture where Jesus feeds 5000 men plus women and children.

Praise Report - God Tube

I've had a presence on God Tube for a little over a year. God Tube is the Christian version of You Tube. I uploaded 4 promos in 2009 but had uneven success with the audio upload. However, this year I have been led to pursue anew some long-standing technical problems with this ministry effort (the iTunes podcasts, the link for the downloadable brochures & the God Tube feed). Initially, each of these problems baffled me and I failed to find a solution but this year I felt a prompting in my spirit to try again. As I respond in obedience, God is "parting the Jordan" before me. As I move forward, one-by-one the problems are being resolved. I reference the parting of the Jordan River because at the Jordan the waters only receded as the Israelites moved forward, only as their feet touched the water did it back up. I believe in God's timing, not my own. I am sensing His move this year and I'm looking forward to what He will reveal to me and accomplish through.

I encourage each of you to remain sensitive to the move of God's Spirit in the midst of your circumstances. Don't be afraid to step forward in response to His prompting yet one more time. As you do, you will be moving forward in His power (rather than your own) and to His Glory. You may be surprised by what He chooses to do.

Larry

Monday's Meditation - January 24, 2010 - God's Interest In The Giver's Willingness

A new podcast has been published to the More Than The Gift website and iTunes Store:

The Giver's Willingness

Abraham had waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise and then (when Abraham was 100 years old) the fulfillment came. Sarah bore her only child, Abraham’s son, Abraham’s heir. Isaac was a source of great joy and hope for Abraham. Isaac was a symbol of God’s faithfulness and promises of blessing. So, I can’t imagine the thoughts Abraham had and emotions he felt when God requested that he offer Isaac’s life as a burnt offering. In spite of what he may have felt, Abraham’s response was amazing. Abraham exhibited no hesitancy. He did not question, barter or argue with God. He arose early the next morning and began his journey to the appointed place of sacrifice. Abraham exhibited great faith. On the third day, Abraham instructed his servants to stay with the donkeys while he and Isaac journeyed to the appointed place of worship. Before leaving them Abraham spoke words of faith, stating that both he and Isaac would return to them. The writer of Hebrews explains that Abraham was convinced that even if he sacrificed Isaac unto the Lord, God could raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham prepared to offer Isaac’s life not knowing that Isaac’s life was not the offering that God was really seeking. At the appointed time God provided Abraham with a substitute object of sacrifice, a ram in the bush. Why was a substitute acceptable? Why was a sacrifice of lesser value sufficient? It was acceptable because more than the tangible object of Abraham’s giving, the offering God was seeking was Abraham’s willingness to withhold nothing from Him. In raising the knife of sacrifice to offer his son, Abraham demonstrated to himself and us his unrestrained willingness to give his all to the Lord. No object of sacrifice was greater than the gift he had already given.

As always, I invite you to receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought “ for the week, then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.

The full audio podcast is available on my website: morethanthegift.net and the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog. if you don't have iTunes on your computer, a link is provided below to download the iTunes software.

After listening to the podcast in the iTunes Store, I encourage you to offer a review and to send an invitation to a friend or loved one to listen also.


Use this blog for your comments, questions and testimonies regarding the episode.

Praise Report

I found a work-around for the brochure link. Access to the down-loadable brochures is available again. Praise God! Thanks for your prayers!

Larry

Prayer Request

The spiritual battle continues. I recently discovered that the link to the "Brochures" is broken. The link allowed visitors to download and print a written summary of each podcast message formatted as a tri-fold brochure. The brochures were great as class handouts, church bulletin stuffers or foyer pickup literature. There were 20 different brochures available. I solicit your prayer that I find a way around this problem.

Larry

Monday's Meditation Podcasts - God's Interest In The Giver

God had rejected his offering. Cain responded with anger and depression. What amazes me about God’s counsel to Cain is found in what God did not say. Have you ever noticed that God didn’t say anything specifically about Cain’s offering? Have you ever wondered why?

In today’s episode we begin to examine why I believe that even though God gives us scriptural instructions to give offertory gifts, He is actually interested in much more than the gift itself.

The podcast is available on my website: www.morethanthegift.net and at the iTunes Store. Links are provided in the right margin of this site to give immediate access to either site.

Receive Monday’s Meditation as “food for thought” for the week and then let it become “fuel for action” for the weekend and beyond.

Praise Report

Thanks for the prayers. My link to iTunes is functional again. Praise God! Apple instruction to republish the podcasts to a new page. It worked. I’ve noticed that during to period of forced silence, God brought many new visitors to my pages. Last week I experienced the single highest day of traffic I can remember. Since I wasn’t posting new material this was clearly His activity (not mine). In response to this, I felt led to start the year off fresh with a foundational Internet Bible Study on “God Plan for the Financial Support of His Ministry”. There are many new eyes that have not seen this material before.

The podcast episodes can be found on my website: morethanthegift.net or in the iTunes Store under the title "More Than the Gift". I refer to this series of as "Monday's Meditations". With the reactivation of the iTunes podcast, I now I feel led to repost the individual episodes one at a time over a 20 week period rather than reposting them all at the same time. While listening to my first episode again, I was reminded that I promised to publish a 4th component to the series. During the next 20 weeks, I will work on that material. God’s activity is evident, I’m ready to follow His lead.

Yours In Christ,
Larry

Prayer Request

After 1 year, I think there may be a solution to the problem of the broken link between my podcasts and iTunes Store. During this period, I have been more curious than anxious. I've seen God's continued activity from international hits on my web-pages. Yet, I still believe that the messages presence on iTunes is a part His plan. Please pray that I would understand my role in the process and that His will (not mine) be manifested regarding the iTunes problem.

Larry

Internet Bible Study - January 2011 - God's Plan for the Financial Support of His Ministry

I've been missing, I Know! I plan to be more consistent with the Bible Study postings in 2011.

Let's start with the foundational lesson and go from there. Here is a repost of the lesson entitled "God's Plan for the Financial Support of His Ministry".

The role of tithes and offerings are discussed as elements of God’s plan for the support of ministry efforts and ministry workers. However, that support is meant to be the by-product rather than the goal of our giving. The Lord must always be the focus of our giving and that giving needs to be a response to our relationship with Him rather than compliance with external regulations. The work and workers of ministry are God's designated beneficiaries of our tangible gifts. As such they are dependent on our response to Him. As we respond to God, we also respond to them.

Reference Scripture:
Malachi 3:10 (Bring all the tithes)
Supporting Scriptures:
Leviticus 4 (sin offering)
Exodus 30: 11-16 (ransom offering)
Numbers 18:20-24 ( 1st tithe – ministry support)
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (2nd tithe – pilgrimage)
Deuteronomy 26:12 & 14: 28-29 (3rd tithe – benevolence)
Malachi 3:8 (will a man rob God)
Exodus 25 (freewill offering – tabernacle)
Hebrews 9:11 – 10:18 (Christ’ death all sufficient offering for our sins)
Genesis 14: 14 – 20 ( Abram’s tithe)
Genesis 28:10 – 22 ( Jacob’s tithe)
Matthew 23:23 (Jesus’ sanction of tithing)
Leviticus 27:30 & 32 (tithe belongs to God)
Deuteronomy 14:22 – 23 (so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God)
Numbers 18: 20 – 24 (Levites received no inheritance in the promised land)
Deuteronomy 14: 27 – 29 ( ( remember the Levites who have no inheritance)
Numbers 18: 8 -20 (offerings given to the Levites)

Luke 9: 1 - 6 (Jesus sends forth the 12 disciples)

Luke 10: 1 - 16 (Jesus sends forth 72 additional disciples)
Matthew 25: 31 – 46 (Jesus’ priority on the less fortunate – sheep & goats)
1Corintians 9: 13 – 14 ( those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel)
2 Corinthians 9: 7 (cheerful giver)
2 Corinthians 9: 12 - 13 (Men will praise God for their obedience and sharing)

Click on the link to the Internet Bible Study to review the full text of the lesson. The link is contained in the "Additional Resources" section of this blog.

Don't study alone. This is the world wide web. Invite a family member, friend, someone from another state or another country to join you.

Please keep praying for this ministry.

Larry

Halloween - Internet Bible Study

Recently, I’ve been curious about the background of the Halloween tradition. Given its name, I’ve never quite understood what it was really about. The root word hallow means to make holy, to sanctify, to set apart for God. While the costumes, candy, dunking for apples and carving of pumpkins may be fun, our celebrations often do not make clear what (if anything) is being hallowed. My research revealed that the holiday itself is as confused as I was. It does not have a simple heritage, but evolved from the combination of a variety of Christian and non-Christian traditions. It contains a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I doubt that I am alone in my confusion. I suspect that many others also have no idea what they should be setting apart for God on that day. The emphasis of modern celebrations clearly reflects more of the non-Christian traditions, and because we have lost sight of or are unfamiliar with the intent, many of us fail to fulfill the godly purpose in the Christian portion of the tradition.

While I considered those thoughts, Deuteronomy 14:22 and 23 came to mind. This passage begins with an instruction that could easily be paraphrased—“Be sure to hallow a tithe of all you produce each year”—and the passage ends by explaining the purpose: “so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” Reflecting on this passage, I realized that our reverence for the Lord is enhanced as we hallow our offertory gifts to Him. As I think about offertory giving in our churches today, I wonder how often givers consider their gifts as holy, sanctified, specifically set apart for God. I wonder if our approach to giving helps us to learn to reverence the Lord. I wonder, if as with Halloween, many of us have lost sight of or are unfamiliar with the intent and therefore fail to fulfill God’s intended purpose for our giving.

Click on the link to the Monthly Internet Bible Study to review the full text of the lesson. The link is located in the right margin of this page under "Internet Links & Additional Resources "

Don't study alone. This is the worldwide web. Invite a family member, friend, someone from another state or another country to join you.



Ask questions! Make comments! Let's create a worldwide conversation.

Praise Report

I have felt led to be still for a while. In my stillness I have seen glimpses of God's activity independent of my activity. During my silence my webpages have received their greatest number of hits. The web-ministry has now been visited by individuals from over 75 different countries and 44 states in the U.S.

God is affirming that it is not by my power, not by my might, not by my activity but by His spirit that this message will go forth.

Please join me in prayer that I follow His lead alone. Amen!

Larry

Latest Book Review

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net

Be Willing To Give In Faith,

March 4, 2010

MORE THAN THE GIFT: A Love Relationship is clearly scripture driven and easy to understand. The Word of God has repeatedly given us details on how to walk in stewardship and Larry Robinson highlights those scriptures. Robinson organizes this love relationship around three key principles: 1) God is interested in more than just a gift; 2) Our giving is important because of what it reveals; and 3) Our giving is important because of what it accomplishes. The giver must give from the heart with a cheerful attitude that is rooted in faith that only God can provide.

The development of these key principles is centered in reference scriptures, food for thought, and connecting the dots making everything apparent. The illustrations used are common to every believer and easily relatable. The notes, websites and references will provide additional follow-up information. Robinson does an excellent job at telling the story of stewardship and how its rewards provide the gifts of God.

Reviewed by Deltareviewer

for The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers