I opened a letter from our mortgage lender and, instead of a bill, found a check! Our escrow account had accrued a surplus, and the bank had sent us a check for the amount. The previous month had been overly busy, and I had been unable to take on any freelance work during those weeks. But we strived to remain faithful in our giving, and now God had provided. I was holding a check with a value that exceeded what we had lost due to my inability to work more hours.
Discussing finances and giving can be difficult. Jesus told us to not “let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3), something that can mistakenly taken to mean that financial discussions are taboo for the church. While it’s wise to discuss personal money issues at the right time and with trusted people, this doesn’t preclude our need for biblical teaching and correction for our financial practices. Consider how the apostle Paul reminded his readers that generosity is a condition of the heart before it ever reaches the wallet (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Truly generous people don’t give to gain position or recognition. Neither do they give because they’re attempting to meet the expectations of others (2 Corinthians 9:7). Instead, realizing that generosity is love revealed, they give as a reflection of the very heart of God. Scripture reveals that God blesses those who are generous (Proverbs 11:25)—those who give with the right heart (Malachi 1:7-8).
God has generously poured out His eternal riches on us. May we give back to Him out of love and share in different ways with others with grateful, joy-filled hearts. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 15:6-24
More:
Read Luke 6:38 and see what Jesus says about generous giving.
Next:
Have you ever been the recipient of someone else’s generosity? What are some of the barriers—either in your circumstances or in your thoughts—that keep you from giving more freely?
Gary Shultz on September 25, 2016 at 6:35 am
Hi Regina, it is a great delight to be able to give. God has allowed a path for us to do several things with that action. To me the first thing is to recognize that God is God all good things come from Him. We have been allowed to invest in God’s work with what He has supplied to us. We have the gifts and abilities that allow us to generate funds, often accompanied with the health to do it. Somewhere around here is where the fun begins. How much do we need, how much can we invest in the best investment plan ever, forever.
Do we really believe investing where God leads us to give is a top priority? I ask myself as I pick up a fishing rod, do I really need this, or is it more important to save more to give more? If we really believe what God has told us it is a no-brainer. If it “moves” us to give we’re probably on the right track. We can enjoy life and things in it, but I need to allow God’s hand on my heart and wallet. Thanks Regina
jjw2855 on September 25, 2016 at 7:42 am
Encouraging devotion. Thank you Regina. Yes, God has generously poured out His eternal riches on us, for God did not spare His own son. Eveything we have belongs to God. And God does love a person who gives cheerfully. Story of William Colgate – the founder of Colgate toothpaste, comes to my mind. Colgate realized that everything he had was ablessing from God. As I understand he gave five tenth – 50 percent of his earning to the work of God.
sim jing ying on September 25, 2016 at 11:10 am
I was in some other’s generosity as when we gave a lot of contribution to the church as in worship team for worship services, contribution to the purchasing of a new van, piano and renovation of the hall, giving pamphlet to houses that hasn’t know the Lord, so it is out of pure heart to serve the Lord now the Lord has blessed me and my family generously, the journey in the Lord is a peaceful and exciting one, I don’t have any hindrances to give my tithes to the Lord as I know one day I’ll be with the Lord for eternity, thank you to whoever wrote the passage for today, I rely respect everyone who gave their everything to serve the Lord especially the authors of Our Daily Journey and Our Daily Bread.