More than I knew

This month in my Bible reading plan, I have been reading through the topic of generosity and its connection to giving to God. One of the things I love about reading in the Bible with a plan that is topical, is that it forces me to read through parts of the Bible I never knew included certain topics. This month when my plan laid out the readings on generosity I knew it would cover chapters in 2 Corinthians and in 1 Timothy. What I have come to realize is that there are many passages in the Old Testament that deal with the generous Christian life and its connection to giving to God and others. This has really given me a deeper appreciation for the Old Testament and a deeper love for the Word of God has a whole.

What I am finding even more amazing is that generosity is not the only topic that the Old Testament teaches on, that we can find serious application in, for this life, post Jesus death. This year I have discovered that the Old Testament has a lot to teach us about prayer, discipleship, faith, encouragement, money, love, and even worship. So I would encourage any Christian not just to read through the Bible, just to read through the Bible. But also to read through the Bible looking for topics that one can learn from and grow in for their Christian faith. By doing this topical style of reading, a person can find that the Old Testament has as much (and even more becasue it is larger) to teach us about the Christian life, as the New Testament as to teach us. So when was the last time we read through Genesis to learn more about our faith in Jesus? When was the last time we read through Leviticus to learn about true worship of the King? When was the last time we read through Judges to learn about a right faith? And when was the last time we read through Habakkuk to learn more about true joy? The Old Testament still has much to teach us, even on a daily applicable basis.

Lord willing, over the next few days I will be sharing some of what the Old Testament has taught me about the topic of generosity and giving to the Lord.