Giving Dilemma
My wife and I have been giving to the local church as we see God’s Word instructs, to further the gospel. The Pastor, Elders and the Deacons of our church are humble men who give reports of receipts and expenses each month. They often help the financially single Moms and married couples of the church that are struggling financially. The ones who are recent converts and do not have the ability with ability to feed their families, pay their utilities, or buy medications. These recent converts are visited by the church leadership and given instructions as to how to better manage their money and eventually become equipped enough by the Lord, as he provides for them in their obedience to help others. The Elders and the Pastor will meet with these struggling new converts, in their home, and evaluate their money problems. If they have cable TV, any monthly bills that is not a necessity, they will be instructed to have them turned off, or not be elgible to receive the financial help from the church. You get the picture. My son and my daughters do not attend that church or any church even though they have had many invitations.
My Son has 28 years old, has 5 of my grandchildren. He struggles financially. I very seldom help him financially because he is living out of God’s will. He drinks alcohol, does not have a budget, he and the daughter-in-law have a cell phone, and my oldest grandson has a cell phone. He doesn’t attend church and has told me more than one occasion that he does not want any biblical instructions from me or no one else, him and God are alright. He tells me he prays to God regularly. He said I don’t call you are come to visit you very often because all you want to talk about is what God wants.
I have a daughter who is 34 and has two of my grandchildren. She is a policewoman and recently divorced. It has been rumored that she has an affair going with a man and it was going prior to the divorce but I have not confronted her with this and ask is it true. She also has financial problems. I am 60 years old and physically disabled and live on a fixed income. My medicine and my medical bills are very high each month and have been for about 5 years. My wife is employed with a low to moderate income of 18, 000 per year. With God as our provider, we still have extra money most of the time, even when you take into consideration that my wife has a modest salary and my retirement fixed income is pretty low. Now take into consideration we are tithing 10% plus. I often hear people give this passage.
1 Tim 5:8
8 But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Often I am broken-hearted with children’s their financial condition, but mostly spiritual condition. I often have the thought to take the tithe money and give it to them because of my love for them. Would God honor that and would I be contributing and helping God bring them to repentance?
These thoughts come to my mind often. You don’t need to ignore your family. You can give to them and it will be as God honoring as giving to the local church. After all his word says to provide for your own and help the poor. You can be as selective in giving to others as the Pastor and the Elders. You know the Word as well as they know it on how to give. It’s not fair to help others and let your grown kids rough it. Yea, you kow that they are not honoring God but maybe if you help them financailly they start. Whose voice is this I’m hearing?
Comments Please.