An Offertory Devotional video for Sabbath, June 19, 2022, in your @adventistchurch: vimeo.com/687924126. Putting God first can be difficult. What can we learn from this video that will help us put God first in our lives today? Also available in #Spanish and #Portuguese. Put #GodFirst #StewardshipMinistries
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For more information on the Stewardship Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, you can head over to stewardship.adventist.org/ ______________________________________________
We give systematically and regularly because the Divine Model has demonstrated that His giving to humanity was not an afterthought. The plan to offer His Son and rescue humanity from sin was elaborated before the creation of the universe, and at the set time, Jesus came to Planet Earth. This clearly illustrates the consideration of a loving God for fallen humanity. In response to the example set by the greatest Giver, the apostle Paul gave the following admonition to the believers in Corinth: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up” (1 Cor. 16:2). Giving that is planned honors the receiver.
Think about your feelings when you receive a belated birthday note from someone whom you consider close and important to you. Sometimes the message comes when they see your social media post thanking others for their well-wishes. These belated notes are rarely the most valued. When we want to show someone that he or she counts and is special, we usually mark our calendar and even add a reminder for us not to miss the important event. The best expression of love is both spontaneous and planned.
Which type of giver are we when we express love and thanks to God? Do we depend solely on the prompting of our impulses and feelings? Are we those who ask the deacon to wait while we dig deep into our purse or pocket? Or do we remember about returning tithe and giving offerings when we see an expectedly higher balance on our bank statement at the end of the month? How do we honor the Savior who does not treat us as an afterthought? This week, as we worship with our tithe and regular and systematic offerings, called Promise, let us show that our God is first and foremost.