GIVE OUT OF GRATITUDE TO GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 25, 2021.

SUBJECT : GIVE OUT OF GRATITUDE TO GOD!

Memory verse: "So let each one give as He purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (Second Corinthians 9 vs 7.)

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 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 fruits of your righteousness,

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

INTIMATION:

Christians should give of their own free will without reluctance and without feeling compelled to give. They should be moved to give out of gratitude and the grace of God in their hearts. Therefore, they should seek to see how much they can give, not how little they can give. Since Christians are grace-motivated, they should give out of thanksgiving to God for saving them by His grace. Grace-motivated Christians are thus cheerful givers, and spiritually grow every time they have the opportunity to give.

A giving attitude is more important than the amount given. The person who can give only a small gift shouldn’t be embarrassed. God is concerned about how a person gives from his or her resources. God Himself is a cheerful giver. Consider all He has done for us. He is pleased when we who are created in His image give generously and joyfully. Do you have a difficult time letting go of your money? It may reflect ungratefulness to God.

Believers are called to be generous because of the example of the Lord of life. 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. Do neighbors see generosity in your actions?

Christians shouldn't fall for any kind of coercion to give. That is tantamount to given of necessity. The only giving that is acceptable to God is that which you purpose in your own heart and give cheerfully—not grudgingly or of necessity. You aren't going to buy prosperity from God, or force Him into blessing you, just like you don't need to pay Him protection money to keep the curse of the law out of your life. All of that is manipulation and condemnation, and giving with those motivations profits you nothing. Give as a response of joy and love for God. And let your giving be a matter of rejoicing rather than duty.

Unfortunately, you sometimes hear ministers at meetings, church or on television manipulating people into giving "of necessity." For instance, when  a preacher says things like "if anyone gives a specific amount within the next ten minutes then God is going to open the heavens and pour out all kinds of blessings." That's not fundraising, it's bribery! Some preachers will call for the first 100 people or any number they choose, and ask them to give a specific amount, and God will do a specific thing for them. Again that is not in any way, an exercise of faith. It is giving of necessity, giving to receive a specific thing. That is "barter."

People may hesitate to give generously to God because they worry about having enough money left over to meet their own needs. But God is able to meet our needs. The person who gives only a little will receive only a little in return. Don’t let a lack of faith  keep you from giving cheerfully and generously.

We should pray for the grace of giving. Too often, stewardship of money is given a different status than other aspects of discipleship. 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, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the world out of Your love for it, and the gifts You have always bestowed on us Your children cheerfully. Endure with the grace to give out of gratitude for all You have done, is doing, and yet to do for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!