Do Your Gifts Please God?

Years ago, when working in the field of technology for a school system, my coworkers and I decided to pool our money together for a gift for our boss. He had a good sense of humor, so there were several gag gift suggestions, but also more thoughtful gift ideas. All of our gift ideas had merit, but we agreed on a more impersonal gift certificate to a local restaurant. And why? We asked his wife! She suggested the gift certificate knowing that he would be appreciative, and he was. We were glad we asked.

Have you ever wondered what kind of gift God would appreciate? We don’t have to wonder or guess. He has actually revealed to us what He desires in His word.

I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

—Romans 12:1

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

—Micah 6:8

Of course, when we think of giving to God we also naturally think of the Sunday collection.

Often times I have found myself writing a check and dropping it in the collection plate without even thinking. I didn’t have a bad attitude. But it was a kind of mechanical giving experience.

The prophet Amos warned God’s people about their sacrifices. They were presumptuous in thinking that a gift to God would please Him when they were also honoring foreign gods.

The prophet Malachi warned the people that God would not accept their offerings. They selected sick and lame animals for sacrifices and found the whole process to be tiresome.

Solomon gave a warning to avoid eating with a selfish person saying, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ but his heart is not with you.” This illustrates hypocritical giving in which a person offers a gift, but really does not want to give.

Some Pharisees at the time of Jesus were very careful to observe the Law of Moses. However, they only desired to be seen by other people. They were insincere in their offering to God.

These examples illustrate different ways that our offerings to God can become meaningless. So, how can we avoid mechanical giving, insincerity, selfish giving, hypocritical giving, and presumptuous giving? How can we give in such a way that it pleases God?

The Apostle Paul encouraged:

Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 

—2 Corinthians 9:7 (ISV)

Giving is a decision of the heart, suggesting that you have thought about it. Also, your giving is not something you regret or something you are forced to do. If you need guidance in deciding about your giving, just reflect on what God has done for you; and don’t stop with just a couple of items on your list. Keep thinking….

In the next verse (2 Corinthians 9:8), Paul wrote that God “is able to make all grace abound.” The idea is that God has blessed you with enough so that you can give something. Even then, God does not tell you to give a specific amount or percentage. Again, your giving is something you are to think about and decide on in order to please God.

Do you think your offerings please God?

If not, what would you change?

Mark Stinnett

November 28, 2021

Is It Difficult To Be Thankful?

Reflecting on my own past, I think there were times when it was difficult to be thankful.

When comparing myself to others: I wanted to possess things my friends had; to make as much money as I perceived they did; to have the influence, position, opportunities, health, good looks as I perceived they had. My problem: lack of contentment. When a person lacks contentment, it is difficult to be thankful.

Yet, the Apostle Paul wrote that he had

• experienced prosperity and humble means,
• felt hunger and felt fullness,
• lived in abundance and suffered need.

He did not say that he learned how to be content, but that he learned to be content. Contentment is a choice and his contentment was based on faith:

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

 —Philippians 4:13

Difficult Circumstances: People sometimes quip, “Well, things could be worse.” While that is probably true in many (most?) cases, it is rarely helpful when difficulties arise. When people go through difficulties, there is generally some kind of pain or discomfort. It might be physical, emotional, or spiritual. Whatever the specific difficulty might be, it hurts. When a person is hurting, it is difficult to be thankful, even if it could be worse. Yet, Paul encouraged:

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. 

—2 Corinthians 4:17

Paul went on to say that we do not focus on the things that are seen, our difficulties, but things which are not seen, our hope of eternal life.

Selfishness: Thankfulness is an attitude expressing gladness and appreciation for someone, something or one’s circumstances. In general, people are thankful when they receive something they value in some way. They are thankful when things go their way. In contrast, selfishness is the attitude of fixating on one’s self. Selfishness often turns into disappointment or anger when things do not work out to a person’s satisfaction. When a person is filled with self love, it is difficult to be thankful.

Yet, Paul remembered the words of Jesus:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 

—Acts 20:35

By his own example Jesus showed that:

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…. 

—Mark 10:45

Apathy: Some people find it difficult to give thanks because they simply are not glad or appreciative. They just don’t care. Apathy is a close cousin to selfishness. Apathy often appears when there is little energy left for anger.

Apathy is not uncommon in the life of a person who believes that no one cares for him/her. Where apathy reigns, thankfulness is difficult.

The Psalmist believed that no one cared for him (Psalm 142). Yet, he found comfort in God. The Apostle Peter offered encouragement to the one who is apathetic through a call to humility…

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 

—1 Peter 5:7

When you focus on yourself, it can be difficult to be thankful. But when you focus on God and your eyes are set on the promised hope of eternal life, how can you not be thankful!?

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Mark Stinnett

November 21, 2021

How Difficult is Integrity?

As a kid, the idea of integrity mostly began and ended with honesty, but now I know there’s more to it. What else should we be thinking about? What does the Bible say about integrity?

Depending on the translation that you use, the word integrity is found in the Bible only 25-45 times, and then, predominantly in the Old Testament. There, the word integrity translated a family of Hebrew words focusing on the idea of uprightness. So…?

A person who is upright, or full of integrity, certainly is one who is honest. This person does not tell lies. Yet, integrity impacts more than our verbal expressions. Integrity calls for honesty in communication, but also in one’s work and in one’s relationships.

A man or woman of integrity always does the best job he/she can do. Work includes a job for pay, volunteer work, an assigned task at school or at home, and even a self-assigned task. Each task will be considered important and will be completed.

A person of integrity works with the same effort and quality whether working for himself or working for someone else; whether working by himself or with coworkers; whether the boss is present or not.

Integrity means that you will be responsible with respect to your work. You will follow through with a task you’ve agreed to. You will complete a task that you’ve begun, even if it costs extra time and money.

In addition, you will decline to do things that you already know that you cannot do or do not have the time to do.

Paul encouraged workers to work with a good attitude as if they were working for the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men. 

--Ephesians 6:5–7 (NASB95)

That is working with integrity.

Integrity also involves honesty in relationships.

In your relationship with God you keep His word. You value purity, morality, goodness, holiness and righteousness. In other words, you stay focused on the path of righteousness and avoid evil.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left; 

Turn your foot from evil.

--Proverbs 4:27 (NASB95)

If you make a promise to God, you keep your word. He considers it to be a vow and expects you to honor it.

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
--Ecclesiastes 5:1–6 (NASB95)

A person of integrity abides by the law, but is also concerned with ethical behavior. It might be legal to take advantage of someone who is naïve or uninformed, but it is not ethical. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being overly concerned with the letter of the law, yet neglecting “justice and the love of God.”

But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

--Luke 11:42 (NASB95)

A person of integrity is concerned about fairness whether it is beneficial for himself or not. He is concerned about the well-being of others, not just himself. This attitude translates into kindness and benevolence and generosity. (Remember Zacchaeus in Luke 19.)

A person of integrity looks at all people with value recognizing that he is really no different. He is not prejudicial, but treats everyone with respect. (Reflect on the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.)

Integrity describes a person who is righteous in all things, one who is complete in godly character, one who is of sound judgment. A person of integrity is honest, good, kind, responsible, dependable, fair, just and equitable. This person has a good reputation and values a good name.

Is integrity difficult? What do you think? It all depends on the things in life that you value.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. 

— Micah 6:8 (NASB95)

Mark Stinnett

November 14, 2021

"All the World's a _____" ?

A day or two before moving to Missouri dad had an errand to run and he asked me to go along. He dropped in on an older gentleman from our congregation while I stayed in the car. Dad returned with a shoe box. Inside was a pair of shoes. He said they were the wrong size for him, but he accepted them anyway.

Confused, I asked why. Dad explained that he had taught the man about God and that he was deeply grateful and wanted to give him a gift. Dad said that he accepted the gift because the man needed to honor him with a gift.

That was a profound lesson for a 13-year-old: He needed the opportunity to give.

My dad was a great example that day. But there was something about his example that I’ve reflected on numerous times. I did not learn from his example by watching, but by listening. The example was there, but I would have never learned that valuable lesson without dad’s words to communicate it.

Sometimes our children will pick up on valuable lessons without us saying a word. More often, however, we will need to use words. We will need to focus their attention and tell them what our examples mean. It’s not bragging. It’s called instruction, and it’s our job as parents.

Early in the book of Proverbs Solomon wrote:

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction 

And do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Fathers and mothers are both teachers and there are many areas of life deserving of their instruction. It is worthwhile to teach children about managing their finances, being responsible with the their possessions, how to make good friends and how to choose a respectable career. It is important to see, however, that all of these important areas of life are ultimately connected to righteousness. Other related qualities that Solomon emphasized include honesty, integrity, faithfulness, honor, personal responsibility, fairness, justice, purity, kindness, and generosity. These qualities apply to all relationships in life, but especially one's relationship with God.

To the Israelites God instructed parents to teach their children His law. The Law of Moses provided instruction regarding God, one’s fellow man, non-Israelites, authority/government, benevolence, taxation and even care of the land and care for work animals.

In the New Testament parents, specifically fathers, are instructed to…

Bring them [children] up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

—Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)

We must teach our children all the things that Jesus and His disciples taught.

As Christians, we take to heart the instruction that God gave to the Israelites regarding the teaching of their children.

Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 

—Deuteronomy 6:7 (NLT)

Shakespeare wrote “All the world’s a stage.” (What would you expect from a guy writing plays?) But I think God was trying to tell His people, and yes, us today, “All the world’s a classroom.” So...teach!

Teach what Jesus taught and how it all relates to life. Teach by example; but don’t forget the words. And teach TODAY, wherever you are, because, blink…they’re grown.

Mark Stinnett

November 7, 2021

To Answer or Not to Answer

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
   Lest you also be like him.
Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
   Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
--Proverbs 26:4-5

Which is it? 

Do you answer a fool? 

Do you not answer a fool? 

How can you know?

Assuming that your answer will be true and perceptive, Solomon gives a reason for both answering and for withholding an response. He wisely offers reasoning for both cases. So, we must recognize that the best response will require wisdom.

How can we discern?

I believe the answer is found by examining the two possible results.

Solomon’s reasoning for withholding an answer from a fool is: Lest you be like him.

Things start with a foolish person making a foolish statement. It is natural to follow your impulse to correct him. Yet, after doing so, he answers back with more foolishness. Then, you answer again. The cycle continues….

Without thinking it through, you find yourself engaged in the same fruitless ranting or babbling just like the fool. You are doing nothing more than providing a platform for endless foolishness.

Stop that!
Avoid that!
Don’t become a fool yourself!

Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will quarrel.
--Proverbs 20:3

In the second case Solomon advised to answer a fool, but, again, consider his reasoning: Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

In this case you are encouraged to answer, but with a purpose, not a warning. Your answer is to illuminate the truth of the matter so that the foolish one is shown to be foolish.

If the foolish person can listen, then he will benefit when corrected. This advice is especially applicable when other people are involved. It can help those who may be naïve yet are able to listen. They may benefit from the fool’s correction. Consider...

When the scoffer is punished,
the naïve becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed,
he receives knowledge.
--Proverbs 21:11

Solomon’s wise advice is never more applicable than in our day. It is tempting to splash our personal opinions all over social media in response to all kinds of foolishness...just like everyone else. However, we need to be cautious. We need to be wise. It is fruitless to engage in dialogue with a scoffer whether in person or online, whether in public or in private. However, there may be times in which a wise word will be beneficial to a naïve foolish person or others who can listen.

In the end, it is not about you and your wisdom. Think about the benefit to others. Look away from yourself and your cleverness. Then you will know how to respond.

Be wise.


Mark Stinnett

October 31, 2021