Just want to share this post taken from my blog. I know I have not been updating so I thought the least I could do is import some of my posts to share with you all too.
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I used to think that tithing and giving offerings were ways in which we can honour God. Albeit, that is true, but I thought that was the main purpose for tithing and giving offerings. I thought it was a chance to "pay back" God for His goodness (although everything is His to begin with). Yet, even in our giving, God multiplies what is given. Like the boy who gave his bread and fish to Jesus, more was given to him. Jesus showed the Father's heart when he multiplied the little that was given and was enough to feed thousands of people. God uses our giving as a chance to bless us further! When we are able to give, God is able to give us much more. When we let go of our tithes and offerings to Him, He takes it, and through a divine cycle, the blessings find a way back to us many times over!
I remember Pastor Prince mentioned the widow of Zarepath a few months ago. Pastor asked God why was it necessary for Elijah to go to the widow. Surely He knew that the widow only had so little flour left and He even asked her to feed Elijah. God could have sustained Elijah at the brook where the ravens brought him bread and there was a supply of drinking water. God was revealing Himself in this story. It was precisely because the widow's supply was about to be exhausted that God wanted to supply her and He did it by allowing the widow to give. Whenever God has a chance for us to give, it is because He is preparing His supply to overflow into our lives. It was never God's intention to have the widow feed Elijah alone and have her and her son die of starvation. All along He was planning to increase her supply and the man of God was especially sent to her and she and her son were blessed with enough supply to last through the famine. God's heart is always to give. Even when it seems that we are giving Him something, He has already something better to give to us!
And if that was not enough, God wanted me to change the way I thought of another thing - worship. Now, it is common to think that worship is for God. It is our chance to give Him glory and proclaim His goodness and truly, God enjoys it when we praise and worship Him. But as much as worship is a time of intimacy with Daddy it is also for our benefit. Pastor Benjamin shared about worship in the month of February and that really further enhanced my worship experience. He shared that worship (which is also known as the fear of the Lord) carries with it blessings.
Blessings of Worship:
Proverbs 1:7 - Knowledge, which is to ascertain by observing. Basically, the power of observation.
Proverbs 9:10 - The wisdom here is "skillful wisdom", skills for living.
Proverbs 10:27 - Prolonged life; longevity.
Proverbs 14:26 - Confidence. The confidence that is of God and not of self.
Proverbs 22:4 - Riches and honour and life.
And there I thought worship was a one-directional thing which is from us to God. Even as we give God our worship, He gives us all these blessings. Not only is worship enjoyable, its good for you too! (Kind of like playing Wii sports.)
I was thoroughly reassured that my God is good but God still wanted to change the way I thought about another thing - prayer. I used to think that the only benefit that I can get through prayer is if I pray for my own personal well being. It was during the prayer meeting held recently that Pastor Henry shared a little bit about Job and through that I saw God's heart once more. The prayer meeting was to pray for a lot of things, a lot of great things, a lot of things outside of my own self (although technically some of them can affect me e.g. praying for the government). We prayed for Singapore and for other nations, for our church, and for other churches, for Christians all over the world. Pastor Henry shared that when Job prayed for his friends, God turned his situation around (Job 42:10). Pastor Henry encouraged us that even as we came together and prayed for others, God was turning our own situations around for the better. And there I was thinking that I was making the world a better place and making God happy in the process but God's heart was to turn my own situation around.
Through all these things, tithing and giving offerings, praise and worship, and prayer, I was able to see that God's heart is really so generous. When it seems like all these things are for God's own benefit or for others, it also benefits myself. Daddy God really knows how to give, give and give. If my cool new hairstyle was not keeping my head together, I think my mind would have been blown away already at the sheer love that Daddy has for us. He gave us all these opportunities with the intention of blessing us much more!
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For those who managed to read through all that, you will be rewarded with a funny little story.
When titles and positions change, it takes some time to change the way we address the people involved. It took a while to get used to call Deaconess, "Deaconess" when I was so used to calling her, "Coach".
I was finally getting the hang of it and have been calling her Deaconess as I should.
It was in the second day of the retreat and since most of the people around were from church, it was not unusual to just greet them when we see them. A simple, "Good morning!" or, "Hello, so and so," was apt.
What's not cool is when JG greets a male Deacon in this manner: "Good morning, Deaconess!"
*exit stage left*
