THE GIVING HABIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JANUARY 12, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE GIVING HABIT!

Memory verse: "The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself." (Proverbs 11 vs 25.)

READ: Second Corinthians 9 vs 6 - 11:

9:6: But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

9:7: So let each one give as He purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

9:9: As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

9:10: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruit of your righteousness.

9:11: while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

INTIMATION:

The giving habit is a grace in response to God’s saving grace in our lives. Giving is, therefore, after the manner by which God extended grace toward us. It is the testing of our love, not only for God, but also for others. The giving habit remains a great grace anyone an receive from God. It produces inward joy and spiritual growth. God Himself practices this great habit;: “For God so loved the world He gave....” (John 3 vs 16). He gave the greatest gift that can ever be given, out of His love for you and I. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ, rich as He is, He gave it all away for us; in one stroke He became poor and we became rich. (Second Corinthians 8 vs 9.)

Believers know the import of that great gift to us all, and the glory the devotion brought to Christ: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him given Him a name which above every name” (Philippians 2 vs 9). In the same vein, your giving habit is counted for you as righteousness that endures forever (Second Corinthians 9 vs 9). Consequently, God is more than extravagant with you, and can pour on you His grace in astonishing ways that you have all sufficiency in everything, and is ready for anything and everything. This increases the fruit of your righteousness, and God ensures that you are enriched in everything for all generosity, and your beneficiaries will be praying, and giving thanks to God for you. 

The amount we give is not as important as why and how we give. God does not want us to give grudgingly. Instead, He wants us to give out of dedication to Christ, love for fellow believers, the joy of helping those in need, as well as the fact that it was simply the good and right thing to do. A giving habit is more important than the amount given. The person who can give only a small gift, according to his or her ability, shouldn’t be embarrassed. God is concerned about how a person gives from his or her resources (See Mark 12 vs 41 - 44). Your having difficulty in letting go of your possessions reflects ungratefulness to God.

What then do we gain by giving?: Freedom from enslavement to our possessions, the joy of helping others, increase in your fruit of righteousness, sufficiency in all things, enduring God’s supply of your needs, prayers and thanksgiving to God for you, and God’s approval. Also, giving helps us gain a right perspective on our possessions. We realize they were never really ours to begin with, but were given to us by God for His use and to help others. People may hesitate to give generously because they worry about having enough money left over to meet their own needs. Contrary to the world’s expectation, we become richer by being generous. God blesses those who give freely of their possessions, time, and energy. 

 

When we invest what God has given to us in His work, He will provide us with even more to give in His service. A stingy Christian should be an extinct specie. Generosity proves that a person’s heart has been cleansed of self-interest and filled with the servant-spirit of Jesus Himself. That is why acts of generosity result in God being praised. It’s God who provides the seed of righteousness in our hearts from which our giving abound to others. We thus give because He first gave to us. The result of the righteousness of God in our hearts is that it produces the fruit of righteousness in the lives of others. In other words, the result of the justification of the Christian by the grace of God is that Christians freely give to help others (Hebrews 10 vs 12). 

Most believers would not want growth in faith, knowledge, or love to stop at a certain level. Yet many decide a fixed percentage of their money to give and stay there for life. True discipleship includes growing in the mature use of all resources, so giving should expand as well. God can give you the desire and enable you to increase your capacity to give. Don’t miss this opportunity for growth. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You remain the greatest Giver ever. You have given me the same spirit that was in Christ, that I may give my service to You and others in love. Engrace me to fully manifest the giving habit, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!