I couldn't agree more.
This is why I speak out against religions which take the name of Christ, yet Transgress the Commandments of God by their ancient religious traditions. The examples show what happens when a religion creates their own "Feasts unto the Lord" as well as defile His Holy Sabbath with their own work God gave them ample time during God's created week to complete. We are bought with a price.
I also agree that using the fruits of our labor to follow any of these things below is not a righteous thing to do. And giving of the Blessings God bestowed on us to random poor people we know nothing about may look good to men, but doesn't line up with how Jesus helped those in need.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
I agree that we ought not to defile the Sabbath or any other day by doing our own work on it, working to earn money to spend it on our own lusts. working to earn money in excess of what we need for our necessities.
Cry thou (out), cease thou not; as a trump enhance thy voice (lift up thy voice like a trumpet), and show thou to my people their great trespasses, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 For they seek me from day into day, and they will (to) know my ways; as a folk, that hath done rightfulness, and that hath not forsaken the doom of their God; they pray (to) me (for the) dooms of rightfulness, and
theywill (to) nigh to God. (For they seek me from day to day, and
they say that they delight to know my ways; like a nation that truly hath done rightfully, and hath not deserted the justice of their God; they pray to me for judgements of righteousness/they pray to me for laws that be just,
or that be right, and
they say that they delight to come near,
or close, to God.)
3 Why fasted we, and thou beheldest not; we meeked our souls, and thou knewest not? Lo! your will is found in the day of your fasting, and ye ask all your debtors. (
But they also say, Why did we fast, if thou beheldest not? why did we meek,
or humble, our souls, if thou knewest not?
And I replieth, Lo! ye pursue your own desires on the day of your fast, and ye oppress all your workers.)
4 Lo! ye fast to chidings and strivings, and smite with the fist wickedly (Lo! your fasting leadeth only to chiding and to arguments, and to wickedly striking with the fist). Do not ye fast, as
ye have unto this day, (so) that your cry (can once again) be heard on high.
5 Whether such is the fasting which I choose, a man to torment his soul by (a) day? whether to bind his head as a circle, and to make ready a sackcloth and ashes (to lie upon)? Whether thou shalt call this a fasting, and a day acceptable to the Lord? (Is that the fast which I would choose, yea, a day for a person to torment his soul? to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to prepare sackcloth and ashes to lie upon? Shalt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?)
6 Whether not this is more the fasting, which I choose? Unbind thou the bindings together of unpity,
either of cruelty, release thou [the] burdens pressing down; deliver thou them free, that be broken, and break thou each burden. (Rather, is not this the fast, which I would choose? To unbind the bindings up of pitilessness,
or of cruelty, to release the burdens of oppression, to set free those who be broken, and to break each burden.)
7 Break thy bread to the hungry man, and bring into thine house needy men and harbourless; when thou seest a naked man, cover thou him, and despise not thy flesh,
that is, brother or sister. (Yea, break thy bread with the hungry, and bring into thy house the needy and the harbourless,
that is, the homeless; when thou seest a naked person, cover thou him, and despise not thy flesh,
that is, thy own brother,
or thy own sister.)
8 Then thy light shall break out as the morrowtide, and thine health shall rise full soon; and thy rightfulness shall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord shall gather thee
to rest. (Then thy light shall break out like the dawn, and thy healing shall come quickly; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall protect thee.)
yes, Jesus gave instructions about giving to the poor, and it's very important to follow them. it is also true that Paul collected money from the Corinthians to give to people in the church in Jerusalem. so I think that giving money to a missionary who says she is going to use it to buy Bibles for poor people in Haiti is an acceptable practice. if it's of any interest, lest anyone to think I'm boasting about this, I didn't give her any money in the end anyways.
But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[
g]
55 “Death, where is your sting?
Hades,[
h] where is your victory?”[
i]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. 2 On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me. 5 But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia. 6 But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, 4 so that I won’t by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting. 5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. 6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
God wants us to give joyfully. if a person has two shirts is it a good idea to get one of those to another person who doesn't have any shirt?
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor.
His righteousness remains forever.”[
a]
10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; 11 you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God; 13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all; 14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
