Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 21, 2019
Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! Your measurement of generosity becomes the measurement of your return. Luke 6:38, The Passion Translation
I’ve been reflecting over the last few weeks on God’s principles related to giving. What are His spiritual laws of giving? These disciplines are foundational to a generous follower of Christ.
Here are some of the Spiritual Laws of Giving Scripture Teaches:
God Loves Generously For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Our heavenly Father is a reckless, radical, crazy lover. He gave His perfect son, for imperfect humanity. Jesus was extracted by love from the loving community of the Father and Spirit to be the catalyst for a loving community of His followers. Just like the Sower (God) scatters seeds indiscriminately over a diversity of soils, so the unconditional love of our heavenly Father is scattered indiscriminately over the hearts of all human beings. God loves with radical generosity!
Reaping Follows Sowing Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6
Sowing is a faith function solely dependent on the Lord of the harvest to bring forth fruit. The role of a Christ follower is to scatter seeds of love, truth and resources—far and wide. So, the divine process plays out: sow sparingly, reap sparingly—sow generously, reap generously. God is praised and thanked, needs are met on earth and rewards are sent ahead to heaven with lavish sowing. The faithful sow generously in the present, waiting on the abundant harvest to come.
God Loves A Cheerful Giver Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6
Joy and generosity go together like salt and pepper, separate they bring their distinct flavor, but together they are the seasoning of God’s grace. Guilt and outside pressure have no room in the heart of a Spirit-led, cheerful giver. If there is not peace from God, there should be no gift for God. Only the willingness and freedom that comes from an inner conviction leads to joy in the giving of the gift and joy after giving the gift. Joy accompanies giving done in Jesus’ name.
Having Much Requires Much From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Luke 12:48, NASB
Some Kingdom citizens have been given more: more knowledge, more relationships, more influence and more resources. With these added blessings come added responsibilities. “Lord, how would you have me spend my time, talent and treasures”, is a necessary prayer for God’s wisdom to wisely manage His abundance. More resources, leads to more opportunities, which requires the Spirit’s discernment for the best decisions. God expects more from those with more.
More Blessed To Give Than To Receive Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35, NASB
Jesus reminds us that giving is more fulfilling than getting. Blessings accompany both giving and receiving, but according to our Lord—the larger level of divine enjoyment is in our giving. As a conduit for Christ, we are able to receive His love in order to give His love. As God blesses us with wisdom or material wealth, we are able to bless others with our prayerful advice or generous financial gifts. Blessings come in the form of giving, not expecting anything in return.
Love Is The Highest Level Of Giving There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends. John 15:13, The Voice
Jesus illustrates the gift of love with His imminent death on the cross. He gave the ultimate gift of His life for the sins of the human race. In a similar fashion, He calls His followers to lay down their life for those they love, motivated by Christ’s love for them. By obeying His command to give our life for our friends, we are bearing the fruit of our friendship with Jesus. The greatest level of love is giving our lives away in hospitality, care for the poor and perhaps physical death.
More can be said about Spiritual Laws of Giving, but cherish these in your heart, as you commune with the wisdom of the Father, the love of the Son and the comfort of the Spirit.
Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough! 2 Corinthians 9:13-15, The Message
Prayer
Heavenly Father, grow my heart in the grace of giving, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What Spiritual Law of Giving is the Spirit leading you to develop?
Related Reading
Proverbs 22:7; Malachi 3:10; Philippians 4:19; 1 Timothy 6:10
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Our heavenly Father is a reckless, radical, crazy lover. #WisdomHunters #Jesus #giving
Worship Resource
5 minute video: Passion/Melodie Malone:
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