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  THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND THE CHILDREN
  by F.B. Meyer
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of separating ourselves to
God by giving a fixed proportion of our income, as a gauge of our
genuine and deep religious life.

Topics: "Generosity", "Stewardship"
Scripture References: 1 Chronicles 29:14, Nehemiah 10:39, Proverbs 11:24-25, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:21, Luke 6:38, Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Philippians 4:19

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DESCRIPTION
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F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of giving and separation to God,
drawing parallels between the children of Israel and modern believers.
He highlights that true commitment to God involves setting aside a
significant portion of one's income for His service, reflecting on the
Jewish practice of giving a third of their income. Meyer challenges the
congregation to evaluate their generosity and commitment, urging them to
give more than just leftovers to God. He reminds them that genuine
giving leads to blessings and that withholding can lead to poverty. The
sermon calls for a deeper understanding of stewardship and the joy of
contributing to God's work.

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CONTENT
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The children of Israel and the children

of Levi shall bring the offering. Neh. x. 39.

IT was about this time that Malachi wrote the memorable words, "Bring ye
all the tithes into my storehouse, that there may be meat in my house;
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord, if I will not pour you out a
blessing." When a people has separated itself to God, there will be no
lack in its house, no failure in its supplies, no lack for its
ministers. So with the individual. All they that had separated
themselves entered into an oath to charge themselves yearly for the
service of the house of God. Separation is the negative side of
consecration.

How does this touch you, my friend? What proportion of your income are
you setting apart for the service of God? The amount that a man gives in
proportion to his income is a sure gauge of the genuineness and depth of
his religious life. The Jew gave about a third of his yearly income to
God; do we come up to this standard? Yet we speak of the Jews with
contempt, as hard‑fisted and miserly. These old Jews might set an
example to us newer Christians. How often we reverse our position from
God's ideal! He puts us over his estate that we should send Him all the
produce, after deducting what is necessary for our maintenance, and that
of our families. But we engross the entire proceeds for ourselves,
sending Him an odd guinea, or half‑crown, when we can easily spare
it. Let us see that we give at least a fixed proportion of our income,
and as much more as we can. Do not forsake the House of your God; so
shall the heavens be opened in blessing. "There is that giveth and yet
increaseth; there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it sendeth
to poverty."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/fb-meyer/the-children-of-israel-and-the-children/
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