When was the last time?

The scriptures clearly teach that we are to help those that are in need. However, after a little bit of reflection of my own life, I realized that most of the time that I am helping someone, it is out of my overflow, which is just a nice way of saying that I am helping them with my left-overs. Its easy to give away old clothes, an old lawnmower, an old this or an old that. As long as I have what I want, then the items without emotional attachment are easy to give away. Although it is good to give old things away, that type of giving is only a part of what we are commanded to do.

In fact, the scriptures teach that there are times that we should sell our possessions and give the money to the church or to the needy. Now that is a different mindset. That is a mindset of sacrifice, not left-overs. When was the last time that you sold something that you liked, that you really liked and gave the money to the church or to someone in need? Rather than just "praying" (which you probably really didn't do) for the person who just lost their job, when was the last time you sold something in order to give them the money for it? When was the last time you gave money to an orphan or window as the scriptures command? As for me, its been a while. We think that as long as we pay our tithe, like it is some type of bill, then we can keep our spiritual electricity on for one more month.

Call me crazy if you want to, but for some reason, I don't think God included this in the Bible because the publisher needed some "filler" material. Perhaps, God really requires this from us.

Furthermore, why are we not hearing this preached in our churches. Why are the pastors, prophets, apostles, etc... not giving us the true Gospel? If you are truly our shepherds, and if you truly love us, why aren't you telling us the truth? Why are the elders not demanding the truth be told from the pulpits? Why are we watering down God's word in order to make it more comfortable for us? Why are we treating the Gospel like it is a menu and we can order what we want? Why are we selling out?

Crucify me if necessary, take up your stones to throw at me, but I am tired of reading the Gospel and seeing Christs teachings, yet seeing something different lived and hearing something different preached. Kill me if you must, but I see a cause worth dying for. Silence me with murder, just as you have done with the others that preached the truth.

The truth is below:

Acts 4:32-37: ³² Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
³⁶ And Joses,^d]">[d] who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Matthew 19:16-22: ¹⁶ Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good^e]">[e] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
¹⁷ So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?^f]">[f] No one is good but One, that is, God.^g]">[g] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
¹⁸ He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ¹⁹ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’^h]">[h] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”^i]">[i]
²⁰ The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.^j]">[j] What do I still lack?”
²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.