Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Blessings and the Piggy Bank

Marcia at her desk
Marcia and I stay very busy here. As a therapist Marcia is constantly either on the phone counseling or in her office doing the same. We are up early in the morning preparing for what the day may bring us. We are never exactly sure as to what will happen on any given day. At times we may need to drop what we are doing, pack a bag and travel to a mission to help a mission president care for one of his missionaries.

Prior to arriving at our office in the morning we prepare ourselves the best way that we can. We study. In the evening we read together the latest talks from our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and from other Church leaders. In the morning we have our individual study time. Individually we choose what we will study for that day. Marcia, for the last several weeks, has been studying the manual, Preach My Gospel, and the corresponding scriptures that relate to the topics that she is studying. I am currently studying the Book of Mormon and following the direction the Spirit may lead me as I do so.

This morning I was reading the discourse of a king named Benjamin. King Benjamin understood his role as king well. He not only protected and ruled his people with fairness and justice but he also served as a teacher and as a great example. This was his final discourse to his people before he turned the reign of government over to his son, Mosiah. His discourse, although directed at his people in about 124 B.C., is as applicable today as it was then. For example- one of the principles that he taught was this:

     "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye  are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17 pp. 148-149 Book of Mormon)

Isn't this principle just as applicable today as then? Isn't that exactly the example the Savior gave us during his short three year ministry?

Back on topic!

As I was reading this morning another verse popped out at me:

     "And secondly, he doth require that you should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you." (Mosiah 2:24 p 149 Book of Mormon)

What really caught my attention was- "immediately bless you." How is this so? As you think about it logic would infer that if immediate blessings, meaning commandment obeyed-blessing bestowed- were truly handed out wouldn't the world be much calmer as an immediate award would follow obedience? Wouldn't churches be much better off as congregations begin to realize the blessings that flow from the promises by the Lord made through the Old Testament Prophet Malachi:

     "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Where-in have we robbed thee?
In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Angry Birds 'Piggy' Bank
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:8-10 KJV)

If you were to read this as a simple 'quid pro quo' one might assume that the Lord would bless you with some type of financial blessing for the tithes and offerings you gave. This is not the case. Although financial blessings may come- the Lord does know what our needs are- in many cases the blessings that come are in some other form.
Some of the blessings that follow paying of tithes and offerings are also listed by the Lord through Malachi:

     "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts." (Malachi 3:11-12 KJV)

So, Jeff, why in heaven's name do you have an Angry Birds' Piggy Bank picture and what does it have to do with blessings?

That will be a post for tomorrow....

jsf









No comments:

Post a Comment