Deuteronomy 8:11 (NKJV) Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgements, and His statutes which I command you today,
Do you know that God has established a way to help us stay humble and constantly reliant on Him? Tithe and freewill offerings not only remind us that God is the source of our blessings but also of our covenant obligations. They keep us humble before God because it is in God that we move and have our being.
We need to come to a point in our lives where we acknowledge that only God has blessed us with all we have and declare it, even when we are not facing any crisis. Jesus is the head of the church, and the church is the body. There are needs in the church that God wants to supply through those who are faithful stewards of His finances and resources. Tithe and freewill offering express our worship, declare our faith and reliance on Him, and keep us humble before God because we are reminded of His faithfulness.
The issues are not money and prosperity but pride and idolatry. God desires to draw us back to seeking His face rather than His hand, and He doesn’t want us to worry like the people in the world. However, we need to make time to be in God’s presence. Given our busy schedule, this has to be intentional. We need to develop this spiritual discipline because it is where we are nourished, renewed and refreshed, just like a battery recharged. It is also in His presence that He reveals His plan, strategies and ideas to us.
Matthew 6:32-34 (NKJV)For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
God doesn’t necessarily hand us riches directly, even though He could, but instead grants us the capacity—physical strength, mental ability, skills, favourable circumstances, resources, opportunities, and success in our endeavours—to produce wealth.
When we are refreshed in His presence, cast all our anxieties on Him, and draw wisdom from Him, we will have the strength and grace to face daily challenges. The peace that Jesus has given us guards our hearts and minds in Him, helping us think clearly and make better decisions.
We must remember that God is a God of covenant and will watch over His part to fulfil it in our lives. He will honour His covenant with us just as He honoured His covenant with the people of Israel. Meanwhile, we need to know it is the Lord when people grant us favour and bring us into situations that give us success. God provides us with favourable circumstances and recruits capable people to help us, and He will open opportunities and new doors, and make our path straight when we humbly acknowledge Him, trust in Him, and lean not on our understanding.
Sermon Series: Stay Humble in His Presence
在祂的面前保持谦卑
申命记 8:11 “你要谨慎，免得忘记耶和华你的神，不守他的诫命、典章、律例，就是我今日所吩咐你的。
你知道吗？神为我们设立了一条途径，帮助我们保持谦卑，并常常依靠祂。十一奉献与自愿捐献不仅提醒我们，神是我们一切祝福的源头，同时也提醒我们对祂所立之约的责任。这使我们在神面前保持谦卑，因为我们的生命和存在都在祂里面。
我们需要在人生中达到一个阶段，承认唯有神赐予我们一切，并且宣告这一点，即便我们并非身处危机之中。耶稣是教会的头，教会是祂的身体。教会中有许多需要，神愿意通过那些忠心管理祂财务与资源的人来供应这些需要。十一奉献与自愿捐献表达我们的敬拜，宣告我们的信心与依靠，并提醒我们神的信实，从而使我们在祂面前保持谦卑。
问题不在于金钱或财富，而在于骄傲与偶像崇拜。神渴望将我们重新引向寻求祂的面，而非只求祂的手，祂不希望我们像世人一样忧虑。然而，我们必须为亲近神预留时间。在繁忙的日程中，这必须是刻意安排的。我们需要培养这一属灵操练，因为正是在祂的面前，我们得到滋养、更新与恢复，就像电池充满电一样。也是在祂的面前，祂向我们显明祂的计划、策略和智慧。
马太福音 6:32-34 这都是外邦人所求的。你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的。 你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。 所以，不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑。一天的难处一天当就够了。
神不一定直接赐给我们财富，尽管祂完全可以，但祂会赐给我们能力——身体的力量、心智的智慧、技能、顺利的环境、资源、机会以及在各样事务中的成功——以便我们能产生财富。
当我们在祂的面前得到更新，将一切忧虑交托给祂，并从祂那里汲取智慧时，我们便拥有面对每日挑战的力量与恩典。耶稣所赐的平安会守护我们的心思意念，帮助我们清晰思考，并作出更好的决策。
我们必须记得，神是立约的神，祂会看顾并成就祂在我们生命中的应许。祂会像对以色列人一样，信守对我们的约。同时，我们也要明白，当人赐福给我们或带领我们进入成功的境地时，这是主的作为。神提供顺利的环境，差派有能力的人来协助我们，并会开新门、指引前路，当我们谦卑承认祂、信靠祂、不倚靠自己的聪明时，祂必引导我们的道路笔直。
讲章系列：在神的同在里保持谦卑