Our world grants increasing access to those who can afford the price of admission. If you want to hear your favorite band in concert, you can buy a ticket. Spend more money and you can buy a backstage pass and take a selfie with the band during the “meet and greet.” Pay a lot more and they may be willing to sing at your wedding or birthday party.
Money opens most doors—except the one leading to God. He owns everything, so He doesn’t care how much we possess. As long as we give our best to Him, whatever we have is enough. Even in the Old Testament, when God required ancient Israelites to offer a sacrifice for their sin, God said those who couldn’t afford a sheep or goat could present either “two turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Leviticus 5:7). And if they couldn’t even afford two birds, they could bring the amount of flour normally used by a person in one day (Leviticus 5:11).
God made a way for everyone to come to Him. Grace can’t be bought, so He didn’t offer more access or a higher grade of forgiveness to those who gave more. God forgave fully and equally those who offered a lamb and those who brought only a bowl of flour. He didn’t look down on the poor who gave less. His own Son was born into a family that could only afford two birds (Leviticus 12:8; Luke 2:22-24).
We can never buy access to God; in fact, He has bought full and complete access through the sacrifice of Jesus. God freely accepts whatever we have, but He expects even the poor to give their best. They weren’t to bring whatever crumbs they found in their kitchen but were told to offer God their “choice” flour. Let’s give our best to God out of what He’s given us and, whether it’s large or small, it will be enough.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 5:17-30
More:
Read James 2:1-17 to learn how both the rich and poor can thrive together in the body of Christ.
Next:
List three things you enjoy that can’t be bought. Thank God for them. How can you offer God your best today?
Gary Shultz on June 25, 2017 at 6:12 am
Hi Mike: Another assignment? Well, “counting our blessing” either by threes or ones is an assignment we should always have on the burner. We could list many, just to think about who God is and His “faithfulness”. I like things that come by some relational quality like “peace”. One must have most of the package together to have real peace. “Hope” is another gift of understanding and belief. To be sure Mike these are things to be thankful. There are circumstantial things, there promises, big things and I’m always amazed at God’s interest even in the little things of life. Yes Mike, rich, poor or anywhere in between, God has made a way and has shown to all His love without limit. God does want our best in this bargain, even in that He has our best in mind. “Come buy without money” we are told, and “in the fullness of time” Jesus came and paid. No Bulls , no birds, no flour, paid for us by love at the greatest price ever paid. Thanks Mike
Mike Wittmer on June 25, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Gary, I sometimes wonder if I had grown up as a first century Jew who regularly offered sacrifices for worship, would I appreciate even more Jesus’ sacrifice? I’m grateful we don’t slaughter lambs at church, but I want to appreciate more the Reason why.
jjw2855 on June 25, 2017 at 7:21 am
Thank God, we can never buy access to God with our wealth, performance, beauty, nor with any other perishable things. If it was so only the rich and the famous would have access to God. Someone like me would have had no hope : ( . I am grateful that Jesus became my sin offering and my burnt offering. I am washed by the holy precious blood of my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, and this gives me access to God my Heavenly father : ) . Romans 3 : 23 to 25 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith…”.
As for three things, well there are so many things one could list. I agree with Gary, ‘lets count our blessings, name them one by one…’
Mike Wittmer on June 25, 2017 at 1:48 pm
This is a powerful post, jjw2855. May I remember this on my best days, so I don’t begin to think my performance earns God’s love. May I remember this on my worst days, for the same reason!
street on June 25, 2017 at 1:31 pm
List three things you enjoy that can’t be bought.
1. life
2. gifts
3. love
Mike Wittmer on June 25, 2017 at 1:46 pm
street: #3 points out the downside of having lots of money. Those who are wealthy probably wonder if they are loved for themselves or for their money. There is a benefit in not having much!