Expounding the Word of God for the Edification of our Souls:

The Text:

"They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

"அப்பொழுது அவர்கள் ஒருவரையொருவர் நோக்கி: வழியிலே அவர் நம்முடனே பேசி, வேதவாக்கியங்களை நமக்கு விளங்கக்காட்டினபொழுது, நம்முடைய இருதயம் நமக்குள்ளே கொழுந்துவிட்டு எரியவில்லையா என்று சொல்லிக்கொண்டு,..." (லூக்கா 24:32 தமிழ்)

उन्होंने आपस में कहा; जब वह मार्ग में हम से बातें करता था, और पवित्र शास्त्र का अर्थ हमें समझाता था, तो क्या हमारे मन में उत्तेजना न उत्पन्न हुई? (लूका 24:32)

The Thought:
"Were our hearts burning within us while he talked with us... and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Three Elements: 

The Spirit of God works supernaturally through the Word of God, as it is expounded truthfully by Men of God.  You see three elements involve here - the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Men of God.  It is just like a three-legged-stool.  If you miss one, there is less stability.

The Word:

To burn our hearts (souls) within, the Spiritual gift of handling the Word with confidence is counted always higher than the outward emotional outbursts by the art of leading the worship eloquently, the program of invocation chants repeatedly, and the skill of musicians tempo highly.  

The Result:

The former produces the lasting fruit of inner spiritual maturity and the latter causes a short lived outward emotion.  

The Reality:

Sadly, as I personally witnessed in many occasions, that after the people are led to exhaustion in dancing, jumping, shouting, etc for an hour plus, the preacher is asked to give short exhortation in 15-20 minutes.  

An Appeal:  

Let us allow the Spirit of God work within our souls through the Word of God as it is expounded rightly by Men of God.

THE ATTITUDE OF GIVING IN THE EARLY CHURCH:

There is striking contrast between today's attitude, motivation and appeal for giving and that of the early church. 

The Texts:

"They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:45 NIV)

"...that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." (Acts 4:34, 35 NIV)

"காணியாட்சிகளையும் ஆஸ்திகளையும் விற்று, ஒவ்வொருவனுக்கும் தேவையானதற்குத்தக்கதாக அவைகளில் எல்லாருக்கும் பகிர்ந்துகொடுத்தார்கள். (அப்போஸ்தலர் 2:45)

"நிலங்களையும் வீடுகளையும் உடையவர்கள் அவைகளை விற்று, விற்கப்பட்டவைகளின் கிரயத்தைக் கொண்டுவந்து, அப்போஸ்தலருடைய பாதத்திலே வைத்தார்கள். அவனவனுக்குத் தேவையானதற்குத்தக்கதாய்ப் பகிர்ந்துகொடுக்கப்பட்டது; அவர்களில் ஒருவனுக்கும் ஒன்றும் குறைவாயிருந்ததில்லை."  (அப்போஸ்தலர் 4:34, 35)

"और वे अपनी अपनी सम्पत्ति और सामान बेच बेचकर जैसी जिस की आवश्यकता होती थी बांट दिया करते थे। (प्रेरितों के काम 2:45)

"और उन में कोई भी दरिद्र न था, क्योंकि जिन के पास भूमि या घर थे, वे उन को बेच बेचकर, बिकी हुई वस्तुओं का दाम लाते, और उसे प्रेरितों के पांवों पर रखते थे। और जैसी जिसे आवश्यकता होती थी, उसके अनुसार हर एक को बांट दिया करते थे।" (प्रेरितों के काम 4:34, 35).

Motivation for giving in the early church:

The early church gave to meet the needs of the fellow disciples, since they all lived as one big family.  They knew the purpose and also the way the fund was utilized. 

There was no "100-Fold-Assured-Return," tag attached with their giving.  They gave with no expectation of manyfold return of material blessings.

The disciples of the early church generously and continually gave ("time to time," - good translation in  Hindi "बेच बेचकर"), in spite of the fact that they were severely suffering unlawful  (often state-patronized) confiscation of their business and properties, burning down of their homes, and even the martyrdom for the very simple reason of being the followers of the Way.  AND STILL THEY CONTINUE TO GIVE.  There was no deal with God while giving to the church family. 

The Contrast Today:

Oh boy (and girl)! What a contrast we see today!  We do business - invest small and gain big material dividend.   "We trust in God" as long as we get in dollors.  :)

Promotional Testimonies:

This materialistic mindset is evident in all through the pages of the Testimony Columns in magazines, the TV shows (mostly in the footages for appeal), and in meetings. It is sort of a tutored repetition (and in magazines, cut-n-paste): "I gave to this ministry and am blessed with lot of properties, fat salary, big bank balance, flourishing business, promotions, my son is highly posted in USA, my daughter got a rich boy...blah blah blah blah."      

Use, Misuse and Abuse:

And sadly this materialistic mindset of the people is craftily manipulated and encashed by some (or many) preachers, pastors, missionary organization and christian institutions.  The appeal and motivation for giving is to get back manifold, and that too, in materialistic means.  Where is the spiritual and biblical aspect? 

Prayers for Back to Root:

Sighing and praying for returning to our root - to the organic lifestyle and the conceptual maturity of the early church.