Contemplações Diárias

 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." The above is an amazing injunction about generous giving. But, where is the word "tithe"?  It may come as a surprise to you, but the word doesn't appear in the New Testament. Did you know that? Not once. So, wait a minute, then why do we hear yearly messages from Malachi about tithes and offerings? That's a good question.  My hunch is that you hear these messages because there are many infrastructures that your church supports. Things lik...

Ananias and Sapphira, ever hear of them? If you haven't, their story is found in the Bible book of Acts of the Apostles. They played a role in church history that nobody really wanted to take. It was a role that they chose, however.  They gave money to the church and paid for it with their lives. How was that? What? Come again?  It went like this. Just after Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit, God was doing miraculous things to kickoff what became the church. There were miracles, signs and wonders and, what Peter called, fulfilled prophecy (Joel). Tongues, or other languages were used to spread the word of the Gospel. It was a time like no other and the church was growing exponentially.  Persecution began to happen with the jailing of Peter and John. They were accused of filling Jerusalem with their doctrine. Of course that is exactly what they were doing! Their doctrine was the Gospel, that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world.  So what was with t...