Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Thano has already gone to his 7am shift at Safeway. Becki and I have chatted and expounded and reflected and squirmed…and now I’m ready to send this message. As I do so, I want to affirm that I/we do not wish to lay any claim to infallibility or perfection in processing these Biblical ideas. All I wish to do is pass on some little tidbits of personal inspiration that contribute to my own edification…with a hope that it may contribute something to yours.

Regarding this matter of financial giving, let me repeat a line of advice from my good friend and mentor, Jim Davis—“Best make your giving according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving.”

May your day be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The word “ransom” has caught my attention as a matter to ponder. It carries with it the idea of being kidnapped and held for ransom. Typically the one kidnapped is not set free by his captor until the required ransom is paid. In a very real spiritual sense, Satan pulled off a consensual kidnapping in the Garden of Eden, and all succeeding offspring are held as his captives—captives to SIN (Satan’s orientation) until the ransom is paid. And what is the ransom payment? Listen to Jesus’ answer—“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first (Attitudes of self-centeredness are evidences of the kidnapping) must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). Add to this the words of Paul to Timothy—“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

This spin adds support to the idea that before anyone can be saved, they must first be lost. That is, before anyone will ever come to embrace the SAVIOR, they must first view themselves as a SINNER—a captive to Satan’s self-centered orientation and in desperate need of a SAVIOR. John Newton certainly penned it right in probably the most well-known Christian hymn on earth—AMAZING GRACE—“…that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.”

Notice the individuality of this ceremonial law—“each one.” Each one is called upon to participate symbolically in their own ransom payment by contributing financially. We won’t get high-centered here on the technicalities of tithes and offerings. Just understand that giving is indeed an act of worship, and “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).