GIVING AND RECEIVING

I Was Just Thinking About – GIVING AND RECEIVING.

As a follow-up to yesterday’s Blog on Little Or Much, there are more comprehensive guidelines in Scripture about both giving and receiving. One verse that serves as a good summary is Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” This verse indicates there should be (a) commitment in giving, (b) disciplined giving, (c) generous giving, (d) the Lord’s abundant blessing for those who comply with this guideline. We should never get so focused on (d) the Lord’s abundant blessing, that we miss the joy of giving as described by Jesus Christ.

These words coincide with the declaration of the Lord in Malachi 3:10, “Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Once again, the Lord indicates he takes notice of the details of our lives – how we live and what we do. In Malachi’s day, the people had chosen to forget God, His directives, and His interaction with them. As a result, they had denied themselves of the relationship with the Lord and the benefits He was eager to make available to them.

II Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT) states the principle and benefit of giving on the basis of God’s instruction: “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” Have you personally proven this principle and received God’s benefit – His abundant blessing – because of your obedience to Him? If not, why not? If not now, when?

There are ongoing opportunities for spiritual investment, especially at this time of the year: (1) Samaritan’s Purse and the Shoe Box ministry that will benefit children around the world; (2) Angel Tree ministry – both local and national - of providing gifts for the children of incarcerated prisoners; (3) Salvation Army meal provision for both Thanksgiving and Christmas locally and nationally; (4) Ministries that provide shelter and provisions for orphans and unwanted children (such as Big Oak Ranch in Birmingham, AL; Palmer Home for children in both Columbus and Hernando, MS; French Camp Academy in French Camp, MS; and many other worthy ministries who are reaching out to the needy and the unwanted in our nation and world.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.