I think that’s one way to term it, “discretionary spending.” When one has paid all his obligations, and has a little left over, surplus. I am discussing this term because of a verse in Ezra chapter 7. “And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the REST of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.” Verse 18 of the chapter.
The King of Persia had given the returning Jews (who had been virtual slaves for 70 years) a “grant” (silver and gold) to aid in purchasing animals to be sacrificed to the God of Heaven! (“… to buy bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.” Verse 17.)
But since, it appears, the “money” was greater than the “need,” an allowance was added to the royal contract … “And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.” (Today’s Text Verse again)
Maybe funds to care for the Levites, or priests … until the tithes of the land could be collected?
Maybe to add some finishing touches to the Temple grounds?
Maybe to help with the rebuilding of the defenses of the City, walls and gates?
But that’s the point, isn’t it?
Do … “whatsoever shall seem good to thee.”
Isn’t that a summary of human action anyway?
We basically do “what seems good to us!”
I’ve often said about Church attendance (or Church absence) … that a man (or woman) does what he or she WANTS to do!
We go if we want to.
We stay home (or go elsewhere) if we want to!
“Oh, Preacher. I’ll be there Wednesday night for prayer meeting … if I can.”
Really means … “I’ll be there if I really WANT to, badly enough anyway!”
If a man wants to get up at 4:30 in the morning … to go hunting, he will do so if he WANTS to badly enough!
If that same man is asked to get up at 4:30 in the morning to drive his Wife to her Parents’ out-of-State home … he might be too sleepy! Because he does not WANT to do that!
Back to Ezra … “spend the money where you think best, where you want to!”
Bible believing folks tithe their income … if they want to.
They study their Bibles … if they want to.
They pray with their families … if they want to!
Do you get the point of today’s Lesson?
Yes, Psalm 37:4 is still in the Bible, I know. “The Lord shall give thee the DESIRES of thine heart.” God giving a Christian what he wants!
But not until first he has obeyed the preceding verse … “Trust in the LORD, and do good; and delight thyself also in the LORD.” Wow!
If we first want God … then we just might want other things that are right in the Eyes of God!
I am sure the Jews of Ezra’s day spend the overage in a wise manner … because they had the spirit of Matthew 6:33 in their hearts. “But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you.”
Amen.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Oh yes, if we love the Lord with all our hearts, we will want things that … fit into his Will! That’s why our text verse ends this way, even from the lips of a Gentile King: “… that do after the will of your God.”
When we learn to love what God loves, and to hate what God hates … and yes, to want what God wants … our lives will mature faster than ever, to His glory! (“The Will of God,” what a reality!)