Someone should write another verse that says "Must I come and empty-handed?" This time we are talking about the tragedy of coming to a time of worship without a monetary offering. God would not allow this for wage earners in Israel. He said,
Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread . . . . No one is to appear before me empty-handed.A second time he said,
Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb . . . . Redeem all your firstborn sons. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.And a third time he spoke clearly,
Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: . . . . No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed. . .The devil would like for us to distance our money from our worship and think of them separately. If our monetary offerings do not match our words of praise and adoration, Satan is satisfied and God is displeased and his causes are deprived.
God was generous. He provided life for us on earth. He was extremely generous and provided salvation from our sins. He is generous now and provides for us the good things of life. In return, He wants us to learn generosity in our giving.
The answer may be "yes" to the question "Must I go and empty handed?" We cannot always control the choices of our loved ones. But the answer should always be "no" to the question "Must I come and empty-handed?" because the choice is our own. If we have income, then we must learn that part of it is to be returned to the Provider of Incomes in gratitude for His rich provision for us.
PRAYER that we may never come empty-handed.
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