Bible

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Morning thought----GIVING----God loves a cheerful giver,,,,giving in the O.T. was like the Jewish tax system, so to speak, In the N.T. 2 times Jesus spoke of % giving, Zacchaeheus, the wealth tax collector, who told Jesus that he would give 1/2 of his goods to the poor and if he had taken anything by false accusation he would restore 4fold-----then there was the old lady at the temple who dropped in all she had, which was only a couple of cents. Now to the question or thought, if organized religion has gotten so large and powerful that they are not good stewards of God's money is it it proper to continue to give to that organization. Now I understand that giving is doing to and for God's work, but if God's work is not being done????????? I wonder if giving to the poor, putting One's money to sharing the Gospel, putting one's money to helping those in "REAL" need-----is this not God's real intentions???? As you folks know I have been a Methodist all my life, now pushing 77 yrs., not quite there yet but pushing it, and I have found myself at a real cross roads in my Spiritual Life, my church is not the Methodist Church I grew up in.....I talk with God a lot about this but thought maybe friends opinions could add a different outlook, not different from God, but different from mine. I have been searching the Scriptures for a rather long time now on this very subject, not giving, but on what in the world is going on with Organized religion and whatever it is goes way beyond the Methodist church, could be right in your backyard and you just don't know it, yet. Back years ago I got hurt and was out of work for almost 2 years, we came close to losing everything we had, and we were rather well off....then one morning in my time with God I ask that if He would see me through this time I would GIVE____________, in short order my finical life turned around and I have since that day honored my covenant with God and would never think of breaking my covenant----the ole devil has offered me good reasons to, but being faithful brings great rewards. PLEASE notice I said covenant, not making a bargain......God Bless