Generosity & Kindness
Saturday's Devotion (1-20-07)
"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:24-25 (KJV)
These verses are talking about giving. There is one way to escape the grip of poverty, and it's a strange way, but it works: We have to give of what we do have. If we're greedy, and if we use the excuse, "Well, I don't have enough to give!" Guess what? You'll never have enough, because you will stay in poverty if you do not give! You have to give out of the kindness of your heart, and out of faith that God will provide for you. People question the existence of God, but people who have obeyed these scriptures know that God is there! Because there is no logical way to get out of poverty by giving of what you have. The only way this could work is with the power of God, and it does work! When you bless others, you bless God and in return God blesses you!
I'm going to tell you all about something that really makes me angry. When I watch the preachers on television or the preachers at some churches, they act as if you HAVE to do your tithing to them. They act like God will only bless you if you give to them in particular! This is not true. If you only give to your church or some ministry on television, then other areas of the world go without. Give to the thing that is on your heart to give to. I like to give to the starving children funds, you might feel better about giving to some homeless fund or something. Whatever is on your heart to give to, but also you can't neglect giving to those who ask of you. When the guy on the corner asks for money, or when your neighbor asks to borrow something from you or even an enemy needs something from you... DO NOT NEGLECT THESE AREAS! Giving in these areas is just as important as any other area of giving. It shows what kind of person you are, it separates you from the rest of the world! When someone asks something of you, stop thinking about whether or not they would do the same for you. Just give! If they wouldn't do it for you before, then they might have a change of heart afterwards. If not then oh well, you did what you needed to do. I can't help but to notice that people won't give anything for nothing. I remember when I was a kid, it seemed that people were more generous towards others than they are now. Wow, how things change within 12 years or so. It's up to us to show that generosity and kindness.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins as we forgive those who've wronged us. Help us to love one another as you have loved us, and to give to another as you have given to us. Don't let us be greedy, let us be cheerful givers. In Jesus name. A-men!
God bless