QT 9/30/2025 Gen 23:12-20, Giving brings (and is a sign of) spiritual growth

Genesis 23:12–20 (ESV) —

12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

 

NOTE: This passage completes the legal purchase of the first parcel of land in Canaan. Commentators debate whether Abraham was taken to the cleaners or not in the purchase price, but technically what does it matter. When your benefactor is the God of the universe, what does price really mean? I've thought of that in other contexts. Yes, Jesus tells us to be as wise as serpents, but in the end, money is of little value to God (he can create it out of dust or even nothing). Money shows our commitment to God, but God does not need any money to accomplish his work on earth. I think how we treat money goes a long way in our spiritual growth. I reject the idea of a tithe, I believe we can do much better than ten percent. My saying is: "a tithe is a rich man's excuse not to give." It is a nice starting point, but the degree to which we give will determine a lot of our spiritual growth and direction. For some, it is 30 percent or more, but others it may be considerably less -- what matters is your heart. We don't give to grow rich, but we do give to grow spiritually (at least in my opinion).

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have a giving plan? Mine includes my church, missionaries here, missionaries in the world, orphans, poor, and certain Christian organizations.
2. Do I have a plan to increase my giving year by year?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to lead me and guide me in this area of finances. I want to do the right thing; I want to do the wise thing; I want to do your thing.