In sending out His twelve disciples to minister in Matthew 10:8 Jesus said, “… Freely you have received, freely give.” His hand has given us everything we have, and therefore we are only giving back part of what He has given to us. In 1 Chronicles 29:14 in rejoicing and praising God for the abundant giving of the people in preparation for building the Temple, David said, “For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” Also giving opens a door to receiving; in Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give and it will be given unto you …” and like sowing a seed in good soil, the return will be multiplied, “… good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over …” Then we read, “… It is more blessed to give than to receive” in Acts 9:35. There is an abundance of blessing released when we give freely and joyfully as unto the Lord! As we said last week, giving includes finances; these represent our store and provision, and the time and labor of our hands. But giving also includes our love, our friendship, a helping hand, our presence with someone in sorrow or suffering, our words and expressions of encouragement, our uplifting and heartfelt earnest prayers, and yes our giving goes beyond our inner circle of three close friends, indeed it is extended to the poor, “He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses” Proverbs 27:28, and even to our enemies, Romans 12:20, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink …” To receive the full blessings of giving it must be joyous and from the heart – “not grudgingly or of necessity …” 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Give To The Lord
-Author Unknown
Give as the Lord has prospered thee,
Give with a willing mind and free.
He hath supplied thee o’er and o’er,
Promised to fill thee more and more.
Give to the poor along the way,
Give to His people far away.
Give to His needy as they cry,
Give to His people ere they die.
Give tho’ so poor thy gift may seem,
Give but the cup in Jesus name.
Cheerful then give the good and best,
Fearless thy bread on waters cast,
It will return to thee at last.
In harvests great!
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.