Are we in the land...
Illustration
Object:
Are we in the land that the Lord has given us? Was it given, or did we take it from those who were here before? I taught Apache indians in my first job, and realized that the land we claim belonged to the indians thousands of years before we came! I realize the children of Abraham also chased off people who had occupied the land for generations before they came. They might have taken it from some who had been there long before them! I know that the various tribes including the Apaches had taken land from other tribes also! There seems to be an implication that while God may give us something, we may have to work to get what he has already given!
That "firstfruits" bit should make us think. Do we give God whatever is left over after all our bills are paid? Do we ever add up all our income and take out a share for him first? The Bible even goes beyond the expected 10% when it speaks of tithes and offerings! First we need to evaluate what God has given us and then decide what are our firstfruits. That could pay off the church debt on one Sunday or at least one year!
Most of us can trace our ancestry to another country, unless we are indian. (When one Navajo was addressing a group in Washington DC, he asked how many were born in the U.S. When many hands went up, he said, "Then we are all native Americans if we were all born here. So call us indians or by our tribal name, not just "Native American.")
That next part makes us think! Look how many years the children of Abraham suffered before God heard their cries and sent Moses to free them from bondage. Sometimes we are impatient and want God to answer right now! But how many generations had to suffer before God freed them from Egypt? God does not measure time as we measure it.
Many of our ancestors left their homes overseas because of oppression and injustice and came to these shores looking for freedom. Some found prejudice, but at least they may have found more freedom to worship as they pleased. It might have seemed like the Promised Land. Most found that they still had to work to make it their home! They had to search for places flowing with milk and honey -- depending on what kind of "milk and honey" they were looking for. Some did not mind the empty prairies where they could raise cattle, but others may have found their reward in a factory job or a business. As long as they gave God the credit and thanked him in both word and his share of the proceeds.
If we were here before some others, remember that other "aliens" have a right to rejoice also! Maybe it is our duty to help them rejoice.
That "firstfruits" bit should make us think. Do we give God whatever is left over after all our bills are paid? Do we ever add up all our income and take out a share for him first? The Bible even goes beyond the expected 10% when it speaks of tithes and offerings! First we need to evaluate what God has given us and then decide what are our firstfruits. That could pay off the church debt on one Sunday or at least one year!
Most of us can trace our ancestry to another country, unless we are indian. (When one Navajo was addressing a group in Washington DC, he asked how many were born in the U.S. When many hands went up, he said, "Then we are all native Americans if we were all born here. So call us indians or by our tribal name, not just "Native American.")
That next part makes us think! Look how many years the children of Abraham suffered before God heard their cries and sent Moses to free them from bondage. Sometimes we are impatient and want God to answer right now! But how many generations had to suffer before God freed them from Egypt? God does not measure time as we measure it.
Many of our ancestors left their homes overseas because of oppression and injustice and came to these shores looking for freedom. Some found prejudice, but at least they may have found more freedom to worship as they pleased. It might have seemed like the Promised Land. Most found that they still had to work to make it their home! They had to search for places flowing with milk and honey -- depending on what kind of "milk and honey" they were looking for. Some did not mind the empty prairies where they could raise cattle, but others may have found their reward in a factory job or a business. As long as they gave God the credit and thanked him in both word and his share of the proceeds.
If we were here before some others, remember that other "aliens" have a right to rejoice also! Maybe it is our duty to help them rejoice.
