The halfbaked Bard

Saul after the war against Amalekites as commanded by God through Samuel, he killed everyone there in the country, but for Agag, the king. 1Sam:15:9 says, he - kept the best of sheeps and goats and cattle, the fat calves and lambs - everything infact that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. How deceiving and cunning? Obeying in things which are comfortable to him. Giving things to God only if it is worthless to your eyes or useless. And keeping for yourself things which are good in your eyes. It is easy to judge Saul. But how are we? What is the easiest thing to skip on a busy morning - quiet time or your breakfast or good clothes for work? What is the most comfortable thing to disregard on a tiresome day - prayer or sleep? What is the effortless thing to omit on an idle day - time of reflection or your addictions - newspaper/ social media / games/ movies? It is easy to obey God when everything looks comfortable for you. But taking a...

After the battle with the Midianites, while dividing the plunder amongst them, it was instructed to Moses and Eleazar to tell the Israelites to first give the Lord His share of the plunder. Does God need money? Isn't the whole world His? Why should you give money to the church? People will misuse it. It is an instruction that the Lord has given. To give His share- though the earth is fully His. 1 Cor:4:7 What do you have that God hasn't given you? So giving is not making your church look richer. Giving is not making your temple more magnificent and pompous and gaudy. Giving is out of gratitude of what you have received. Out of indebtness of what you have received you give, be it for the needy or for the spread of the Word. That's why Jesus said the widow had put in more. With an attitude of gratitude she gave. When we think of giving we often constrain ourselves in thinking of money alone. Equally important (or even more I would say) is TIME. What is the fractio...