How can we apply Deuteronomy 15:14 in supporting modern-day ministries? Setting the Scene “You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You are to give him as the LORD your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 15:14) When an indentured servant had completed six years of service, God commanded Israel to send that servant away not empty-handed but loaded with provisions. The principle is clear: those released for a new season of life and service are to be well supplied by the community of faith. The Timeless Principle • God’s people are to give generously, not sparingly • Our giving reflects God’s prior blessing on us • Provision is meant to launch others into fruitful, God-honoring work Linking the Verse to Ministry Support Deuteronomy 15:14 shows an intentional, proportionate, and joyful generosity. Applied to modern‐day ministries, it means: • Intentional—support is planned, not haphazard • Proportionate—we give “as the LORD your God has blessed you” • Joyful—liberality, not reluctance, characterizes our giving (2 Corinthians 9:7) Practical Ways to Support Ministries Today Financial support • Regular, proportionate offerings to your local church • Special gifts for missionaries, church planters, and mercy ministries • Establishing scholarship funds for seminary students Material support • Donating vehicles, equipment, and resources that reduce ministry overhead • Offering professional skills—legal, medical, construction, technological Relational support • Hosting ministry workers during furloughs • Providing counseling, mentoring, and fellowship to prevent burnout Prayerful support • Setting aside weekly family time to intercede for specific ministries • Forming prayer groups focused on unreached people groups Motivations Behind Our Giving • Gratitude: “Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8) • Partnership: “The worker is worthy of his wages.” (Luke 10:7) • Kingdom expansion: “He who sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Corinthians 9:6) Guardrails for Generous Support • Give with integrity—no strings attached (Acts 20:35) • Prioritize sound doctrine—support ministries faithful to Scripture (2 John 10-11) • Maintain accountability—insist on transparent stewardship (1 Corinthians 4:2) Promised Blessing “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse … ‘Test Me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing.’” (Malachi 3:10) Generosity positions believers to experience God’s continued provision, enabling even greater partnership in His work. Closing Thoughts Deuteronomy 15:14 calls believers to launch others into God’s purposes with tangible, abundant generosity. By mirroring Israel’s liberality, the church today becomes a conduit of blessing, equipping modern ministries to proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and serve a needy world. |
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