SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 24
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it. [2 Chronicles 24:9-10]
Gladly brought their money…
When is the last time you “gladly brought” money for the Lord’s work?
If you do not, why do you not?
Are you not committed to the Lord’s work, or are you not convinced that the church you attend is doing the Lord’s work? Each person needs to search their own heart in this!
I do not want to resort to “telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax” for two reasons: (1) I do not believe that the taxes of the Law of Moses apply for the church of Jesus Christ, and (2) the Lord desires us to give freely, joyfully, out of Grace and not out of Law.

There is nothing wrong with a church community having a budget, or a system of giving; these are simply methods that churches use to do the Lord’s work – just as Joash’ treasure chests were.
We use a system of freewill, anonymous pledges; we encourage people towards priority giving (not just the leftovers but as a first commitment), percentage giving (basing their giving on a percentage of their income) and progressive giving (determining to give a little more each year).
This is a system, not a tax; it is an invitation, not a Law.
The amount is freewill and anonymous, an expression of your response and gratitude to the Lord.
Once again, the key is the attitude and gratitude of the heart, not the size of the gift.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” [Mark 12:41-44]

When my heart is committed to the Lord, when my passion is for the Lord’s work, then my response will be a devotion of all my resources to His cause.
I will not just give my time, my treasures and my talents because it is expected of me, or because it looks good to others, but because, like this widow, I am committed to the cause.
Sad to say, Joash started well, but his heart drifted from the Lord and His cause.
God does not add up the amounts of Joash’s life (during Jehoida’s lifetime Joash did a great job), but He looks into his heart sees how he abandons the Lord and his cause.

What does the Lord see in my heart?
Am I committed to Him and His cause?
Do I gladly commit myself, my time, my talents, my treasures to the Lord and His mission?

PRAYER:
Lord, I sense Your Spirit probing my own commitment; yes, my time and my talents are committed, but what about my treasures? Do I gladly bring my money?