No One Said that Any of the Things He Possessed Was His Own

Cheon Seong Gyeong 2260

Earthly families are the production plants to re-create citizens who can be brought along into the heavenly world. We act as the owners of these factories before entering the spirit world. If Adam and Eve had set the straight path, we would not need to educate our children. It would have happened naturally. Everyone would have had God within himself. There would have been no need to educate them. We are where we are now because of the Fall. As a result of the Fall, humanity has been ignorant of all the fundamentals. (254-246, 1994.2.13)

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1205

God’s providence was centered at the Vatican in Rome, and then it passed through Britain and America. Now, after two thousand years, it is returning to Asia. This return is not easily accomplished. According to the principle of restoration through indemnity, history should pass through phenomena opposite to those that occurred in the past. The country of Japan corresponds to England, and Korea is similar to Rome on the Italian peninsula before the providence shifted to Britain. In that age, the responsibility was not fulfilled and the mistake was made on the worldwide level. Now these things have to be indemnified and cleared up in similar circumstances. Without going through the foundation that enables us to do that, we cannot prevent Satan from following us. That is why we have been going this course according to the principle of indemnity. (168-310, 1987.10.1)

Offerings and Tithes

OFFERINGS ARE MATERIAL EXPRESSIONS of faith and devotion. The animal sacrifices of ancient times long ago gave way to monetary donations and tithes, as well as gifts to mendicant monks. Every offering, regardless of its kind, represents an outward expression of a devoted heart. Essentially, an offering is a substitute for the self. Therefore, scripture instructs us to offer up the things that are dearest, willingly and without any reservations or lingering attachments. The biblical standard for offerings is the tithe—ten percent of one’s income.

  1. Offerings—Out of a Pure and Devoted Heart

You will not attain piety until you expend of what you love; and whatever thing you expend, God knows of it.
    Qur’an 3.92

Every sacrifice is a boat to heaven. 
    Satapatha Brahmana 4.2.5.10 (Hinduism)

The spirit that eats a man’s offering, pays him back with life.
    Yoruba Proverb (African Traditional Religions)And the beasts of sacrifice—We have appointed them for you as among God’s waymarks; therein is good for you. So mention God’s name over them, standing in ranks; then, when their flanks collapse, eat of them and feed the beggar and the suppliant. So We have subjected them to you; haply you will be thankful.4
    The flesh of them shall not reach God, neither their blood, but godliness from you shall reach Him. So He has subjected them to you, that you may magnify God for that He has guided you.
    Qur’an 22.36-37

Weeds are the bane of fields; lust is the bane of mankind. Hence what is given to those without lust yields abundant fruit.
Weeds are the bane of fields; hatred is the bane of mankind. Hence what is given to those rid of hatred yields abundant fruit.
Weeds are the bane of fields; delusion is the bane of mankind. Hence what is given to those rid of delusion yields abundant fruit.
Weeds are the bane of fields; craving is the bane of mankind. Hence what is given to those rid of craving yields abundant fruit.
    Dhammapada 356-59 (Buddhism)

The dedication of the offering is God; that which is offered is God; God offers it on God’s fire. God is attained by those who concentrate on God’s work.
    Some aspirants offer material sacrifices; others offer selfless service upon the altar of God. Some renounce all enjoyment of the senses, sacrificing them in the fire of asceticism. Others partake of sense objects but offer them in service through the fire of the senses. Some offer the workings of the senses and the vital forces through the fire of self-control, kindled in the path of knowledge.
   Some offer wealth; others offer asceticism and suffering. Some take vows and offer knowledge and study of the scriptures; and some make the offering of meditation. Some offer the forces of vitality, regulating their inhalation and exhalation, offering their life-breath as they breathe in and breathe out. Others offer the forces of vitality by fasting. All these understand the meaning of sacrifice and will be cleansed of their impurities.
    Bhagavad-Gita 4.24-30 (Hinduism)

Of the saying, “The word ‘sacrifice’ is like the word ‘present’; one should sacrifice to a spirit as though the spirit were present,” Confucius said, “If I am not present at the sacrifice, it is as though there were no sacrifice.”
    Analects 3.12 (Confucianism)

Rabbi Meir was once asked, “Why do the scriptures tell us in some passages that sacrifice is very pleasant unto the Lord, while in others it is said that God dislikes sacrifices?” He answered, “It depends whether a man’s heart is sacrificed at the time he brings the sacrifice.”
    Baraita Kallah 8 (Judaism)

And [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury [of the Temple], and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.”
    Mark 12.41-44

Whatever is given should be given with faith, not without faith—with joy, with modesty, with fear, with kindness.
    Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.3 (Hinduism)

“Make your offering,” said the Master. “As you make it be pleased in mind. Make your mind completely calm and contented. Focus and fill the offering-mind with the giving. From this secure position you can be free from ill will.”
    Sutta Nipata 506 (Buddhism)

When a man goes to sacrifice he must remain peaceful, without a hot heart. He must stay thus for at least a day. If he quarrels on that day or is hot in his heart he becomes sick and destroys the words of the lineage and of the sacrifice.
    Luhya Saying (African Traditional Religions)

The word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this temple lies in ruins? Now therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts: ‘Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them in a bag with holes… Go up to the hills, and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may appear in my glory’, says the Lord.”
    Haggai 1.3-8

Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
    But a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.
    Acts 4.32-5.5

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