We ought to always bring our best to the Lord. It is what He brought, when He brought Himself to this table, giving His life to give us life. When we think of the word best, let’s spell it this way: bring everything superior to Him.
Thank God for He is the best. In Colossians 1: 27 God revealed the mystery, tucking down into the treasure chest of God’s original love (the Jews), is that He loves everyone, and that the treasure chest of hope and brilliance would reveal Himself in us – the Gentiles. It is normal for mankind to put people in categories: the ones you bring out your good china for, and for others you bring out the paper plates. The insignia of Christ was on this table spread. When you want something done, do it yourself.
Our gifts are always in response to His gift giving – breathe, life, salvation, talents, knowledge, etc. How does one respond in kind to such extraordinary offerings? Monetary value will not be the guideline, for in the Bible we saw the woman who gave the mite and Jesus praised her; the rich young ruler held back what He had and it cost Him being a disciple. It’s because what we give to God must be defined by His standards, not ours, and that gift should be our best.
Matthew 5, The Sermon on the Mount, reminds us that when we prepare to give our gift, we need to keep the following in mind: 1) first; 2) finest; 3) fellowship, as opposed to doing a drop and run attitude. We see it powerfully in this portion of scripture. When one comes to the altar – Greek word “thusiasterion” (thoo-see-as-tay-ree-on), meaning “meeting place between God and a true worshipper”, notice word “enthusiasm” inside. God doesn’t want us to be indifferent about our gifts of time, talent, resource, submission. It’s like where the Bible says we are to give hilariously- same idea. It shouldn’t be a dirge; it should be a triumph. It’s not about the amount or physical value; it’s about the value you and I place on it – how important is it to me? Verse 23 says “if you come to bring your gift” which is the Greek word “prospheres”, meaning “bring or offer” and comes from the two words “pros” – which means “before”, and “phero” meaning “carry, lead” – what we bring before Him. I also see the word prosper inside this Greek word. All of our gifts are evidences of God prospering us, whether by wisdom, knowledge, position, health, finances, etc. These gifts are what we lead with – first in procession. We give God the first, because that’s what He did. When we give Him the first and best, it allows for Him to multiply that gift and extend it beyond its original intent. Someone has something “against” us, the Greek word “against” is “kata”, meaning “down from” (meaning, from higher to lower place). When we hold something against someone, it brings both people down. It continues from verse 22, where the problem is he is angry with his brother. The term “angry” is the Greek word “orgizo”, meaning, “to irritate, provoke”; it is a fixed anger and generally includes punishing behavior, rather than the moral content of actual offense. Therefore, the inference here is to “first leave the gift” – “first”, being the Greek word “proton”, meaning “before, at the beginning, in first place of time, order, or importance”. “leave”, being the Greek word “aphes”, meaning, “to send away, leave alone, release”. Take ones hands off the gift, intention. The term “gift” is Greek word “doron”, meaning “gift, present”, and is from “didomi”, meaning, “to give” -specifically noting the free nature of the gift (we don’t leave a receipt with it). Even though theirs allows for any in-kind gifts to have value connected to them, we don’t do that before God. The value is in the person to whom we give it. And “reconcile”, which is the Greek word “diallasso”, meaning, “To exchange, change, reconcile”. To exchange enmity for fellowship. The prefix “dia” means “thoroughly, surround” – like diameter, diadem and “allasso” means “experience change”. Reconciliation, means both come through together. We are “liable” – Greek word “enochos”, meaning, “held in, bound by, and fenced in with the same judgment”. If we don’t leave the gift and exchange the anger or forgiveness, we will be yoked to that person and that anger forever. It’s like when in the Coliseums of ancient Rome they would tie dead bodies to the Christians. Holding a grudge holds sludge in our soul and takes us down. April 15, 2012 was the century mark for the sinking of the Titanic. They’ve learned one valuable truth from this disaster: if they would have hit the iceberg straight on, the ship wouldn’t have sunk. It’s because they tried to go around it that the iceberg weakened the bottom part and water began to come in. Let’s hit things straight on, in the grace of God, of course, and let’s give God our first, finest, and our fellowship.
The best is yet to come -the Firstborn among the dead will come back in full regalia. None of the redeemed will sit in the cheap seats. We got the only deal in town.