Daily Lesson for February 17, 2020

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Leviticus chapter 12 verses 6 through 8:

6 When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement on her behalf; then she shall be clean from her flow of blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, male or female. 8 If she cannot afford a sheep, she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf, and she shall be clean.

This is one of the Scriptures from which we gather Jesus’ family was poor. Later in the Bible, in the book of Luke, Jesus’ parents present the infant Jesus at the Temple to make offering to the LORD for the gift of their new child. Mary and Jesus come, not with a lamb, but with what was acceptable for those who could not afford a lamb — “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24).

What is required of us in the way of offerings should not be overly taxing or burdensome. We give what we can.  We give sacrificially.  But it does not honor the LORD for a person to fall deeper into debt or poverty at the altar of giving. So do not heap guilt onto your already heavy burden.

I have a friend who really inspired me last week. He is not yet in a place of giving financially. He has more time than money. So he’s donating his time to help us — and he’s given up several whole overnights to stay at the church with homeless we house during the winter. That’s something not a lot of rich people are able to do.

Here’s a good rule. Give what you can. If you can’t give money give time. And if you can’t give time we will still accept your money!

Work towards the tithe — that is ten percent of your yearly income. Set a goal to add an additional percent given each year. In at least a decade you’ll be a tither. A few more of those will change the church!

And when you reach the tithe give even more. Give extraordinarily. Store up treasures in heaven; and be glad to help foot the bill for the lambs other families cannot afford!