The Children of Israel and the Children
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.
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.
Text
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."
Sermon Outline
- Separation is the Negative Side of Consecration
- The Standard of Giving
- The Blessing of Separation
- The Children of Israel and the Children of Levi
- The Call to Separation
- The Proportion of Income
- The Example of the Jews
- The Promise of God
- The Warning of God
Key Quotes
“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.” — F.B. Meyer
“There is that giveth and yet increaseth; there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it sendeth to poverty.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Set apart a fixed proportion of your income for the service of God.
- Give generously to God, as He promises to pour out a blessing upon you.
- Do not withhold from God, as it sends you to poverty and is contrary to His ideal.