Giving: Unacceptable Gifts

With what shall I come before the Lord
And bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
With ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:4 (NIV)

21st-century lovers of Christ:

  • What if our donations are distasteful?

  • What if our offerings are obnoxious?

  • What if our time in church is unhelpful?*

Such unsettling questions are seldom asked. Most ministries are hungry for our help.

Except the Lord. He's hoping for our hearts. 'My son, give me your heart' (Proverbs 23:26).

Consider two biblical directives:

  1. In both Testaments, God's utmost Commandment is crystal clear: 'You shall have no other Gods before Me' (Exodus 20:3). 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart' (Luke 10:27). No half-hearts or leftover offerings.

  2. Christ fulfilled God's Law and upped the ante. 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:39). 'Love your enemies, bless those who curse you' (Matthew 5:44). No hatred or stubborn unforgiveness.

In our Role Model’s role-model prayer, Jesus tied God's forgiveness and blessings to US forgiving and blessing others. He underlined His principle orders… in The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.**

If we bear hatred in our hearts and words, if we remain in ongoing conflict, then God finds our gifts unacceptable.***

Actors, models and talent for Christ,
Consider two God-inspired conclusions:

  1. By stepping past church and worldly idols, your heart is washed clean. It's made whole by God, for God and to God… in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ: 'To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved' (Ephesians 1:6).

  2. By stepping in the fields of media, you’re obeying your King’s Great Commission (and He WILL help you)! He lifts you, like king-sized waves lift surfers, so you can ride high in visible love, broadcast His gifts, and elevate your fans.

Giving: Unacceptable Gifts (Part 7)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

* Amos 5:21-24: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=amos+5%3A21-24&version=NIV

** The Lord's Prayer: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mat+6%3A8-14&version=NKJV

** The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mat+18%3A21-35&version=NKJV

*** 1 John 4:20: http://biblehub.com/1_john/4-20.htm

Carey Arban