Day 238: Set Aside for God

Today’s Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Central Thought: Giving to God requires forethought and planning.

‘You want me to what? How can I possibly give 10 percent of my income to the church? There is no way they could use that much money, and there is no way I could spare that much money.”

The thought of giving money to God’s work brings a variety of responses, depending on whom you ask. Some are excited at the very prospect of being able to give to the Lord because they are filled with gratitude for His goodness. Others begrudgingly give their gifts because they are expected to give and do not want to appear unspiritual to their fellow parishioners.

Regardless of the response, it is clear that God wants His people to faithfully give to and thereby support the works of churches and other ministries. In today’s reading, Paul instructed the Corinthians to plan ahead and set aside their gifts so that they would not have to even take a collection when he arrived. To follow these instructions the Corinthians had to be intentional in their giving. This is a quality God wants His people to have today.

Giving must be planned and not just an afterthought based on ‘if there happens to be enough money left over.”

Devotional Prayer: Thank You for giving me the ability to give to Your work.

Today’s Bible Reading: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 22:1