Planned Giving

185 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. The sixth commandment for the rich given to us in this portion of Scripture is: “Thou shalt be ready to give.” The idea is the rich should strive to be good at imparting. Strive to give with liberality. I'm going to use a little license here and double play on the word “ready.” The word in the Greek speaks strictly of a willingness to give, but the word “ready” in English means to be prepared. All I'm going to say here is simply this, one of the ways we are enabled to impart our wealth and give with liberality is to prepare for it and that speaks of saving! Putting a little money aside for the opportunities that will present themselves for you and I to give. The classic case in Scripture is found in 1Co 16:1-3, Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. “ The saints in Jerusalem had fallen on hard times and needed some help financially. One of the things Paul was doing on this particular missions trip was collecting money for this need. This was planned benevolence on the part of the believers, and it was strictly based on their ability to give (note, as God had prospered each individual) They set money aside in this manner, on the Lord's Day, (probably in the form of a special offering in the worship gathering) for the purpose of meeting this need. I've already spoken of the second tithe as a method of exercising benevolence, but there are other methods we can employ and I'll speak to those in the next couple of days.