the extra mile

Standout Verse – Number 31:48
Then all the generals and captains came to Moses and said, “… we are presenting the items of gold we captured as an offering to the Lord …”

Then! In this one word the principle of Tithes and offerings can be found. Upon their return this army were require to surrender a proportion of their plunder to those who had remained and to the priests and Levites. This was done without fuss and seemingly as a matter of routine. The principle that what we earn is not ours alone and that what we possess comes from God and ultimately belongs to him was well understood; as was the principle of offering “first-fruits”: that we offer first to God and only then do we count what we have as disposable of ourselves. Once this tithe had been made the generals and captains set about the business of accounting for all their men. The importance of offering back to God was such that they had not yet determined whether they had any dead that needed burying or widows and families that would need informing. When they, during this exercise, realized that that had not suffered any losses they decided to present and offering to God. No matter that they had already surrendered 50.1% of what they had returned with, they wished to offer in thanks.

In whatever various things God asks of us do we go beyond the obligation as an expression of thanks for His goodness and of our love for Him?

Lord, show me the pathway of the extra mile and let me walk it joyfully.