Generosity is the currency of life. Generous people generate things… they produce and create. Choose today to give. Hold your hands open and offer yourself to God first. Let His wisdom, strength and power flow through you. Offer to be His conduit.

Then give yourself to others. Give your time, give your attention, give your resources and give your care.

God’s word speaks the truth when it says,

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger – the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (Proverbs 11:24).

Be generous today and just see if your own world doesn’t expand in some way.

Think about stingy-ness. The mark of the stingy person is the attitude of fear that convinces him there never will be enough. Ask yourself if you are stingy in any area. Making a change will enhance your life.

Choose wisely. If you are a manager and have people working under you, be deliberate in having a generous attitude as you respond.

Surprise yourself today as you reach out to make a generous choice in some unexpected way.

Are you a generous person? Are you stingy in any way?

Lord, fill my heart to overflowing with gratitude for Your love and faithfulness. Help me to pass Your love on in some way today. Amen.

– Think of one area of your life where you find it hard to be generous. What is one thing you can to do today to be more giving?

by Gail Rodgers
used by permission

FURTHER READING

A Cheerful Giver

Heavenly Investments

Joyful Generosity

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“41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” Mark 12:41-44

Do you ever feel anxious when the collection plate comes around? Paul somewhat surprisingly tells us that “You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give.” Not only that, but giving should be joyful, not forced: “Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully”  (2 Corinthians 9:7). Jesus spoke more about money than almost any other topic. According to author Randy Alcorn, about 15% of Jesus’ sayings recorded in the Bible relate to money and possessions. Why did Jesus (and the New Testament authors like Paul) speak so often about money? Perhaps because we seem to have so much trouble using money wisely. Thankfully, the New Testament gives us plenty of guidance.

In the story of the widow’s offering, Jesus commends her gift of the equivalent of two pennies. She gave “more than all the rest.” Paul clarifies that “If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give” (2 Corinthians 8:12). So, clearly the amount given is not most important. Then what is? It is our attitude towards giving.

Often, the Pharisees (the religious zealots of Jesus’ time) tried in vain to trap Jesus with tricky questions. On one such occasion, Jesus’ reply was “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). So what portion of our money is “God’s”? In a sense, it all is, since we have been given stewardship over our money. How much should we give to the church or other important causes? Paul answers this question thusly: “Give whatever you can according to what you have” (2 Corinthians 8:11). The widow did just that; she gave what little she could afford and Jesus approved of her.

Finally, note what Jesus says about giving: “Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired … Give your gifts in secret” (Matthew 6:1,4). Keeping your giving between yourself and God ensures you are giving for the right reason and won’t become prideful. As Paul says, “Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others” (Philippians 2:3).

Follow these biblical principles when giving, and you will be giving joyfully, as the Lord wills you to do.

Lord, help me to remember that You own everything and my finances are Yours. Forgive me for the times I stress over money and hold it as an idol in my life. Help me to fully trust You with my earnings. Amen.

Question: What is your attitude towards giving? What can you do to become more like Christ in this area?

by Darren Hewer
used by permission

FURTHER READING

The Generosity Habit
Try Tithing
Joyful Generosity
You Cannot Out-give God

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HE IS…

The Almighty One and your Might,
The Provider and your Provision,
The Giver and your Gift,
The Protector and your Protection,
The Warrior and your Victor,
The Healer and your Health,
The Blessed One and your Blessing,
The Eternal One and your Ever-Present Help in time of need.

by Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

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The post He Is appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“For God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

I will never forget the day when God asked me to give away something that meant a great deal to me. In our early years of marriage, my husband bought me a beautiful gold pendant cross necklace. He was in the military at the time, and through seven deployments over a 10-year period, I never once took it off. It was a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness to me in difficult times.

Yet one day, while going for a walk, I sensed God was asking me to give this necklace to someone else. I didn’t hesitate; I can remember walking over to him, taking it off, and sharing God’s love for him. As he proceeded to cry, I put it around his neck and gave him a hug.

When our hearts and hands are open to giving, they are also open to receiving. When God asks us to give, whatever that may look like, He often has something to give back to us in return that is just as meaningful and special.

A cheerful giver reveals a life of someone who has put full trust in God, believing He is a good Father who loves to bless His children and enjoys watching His children bless one another in return. This is the life God has called us to.

A while later while opening up Christmas gifts, my five-year-old son handed me a little box. Within it lay a beautiful cross necklace made of bone that he had bought with his small amount of chore money. He didn’t know that I had given away my special necklace, but God knew, and used my little boy to bless me more than I could have even imagined.

You are a good Father: kind, caring, gracious, loving, and eager to bless Your children. May I always be willing to give where You ask me to, and may my heart always be joyous in doing so. Use me to love others the way You love them. Amen.

By Brigitte Straub
used by permission

FURTHER READING

•  The Generosity Habit

•  Try Tithing

•  Salvation Explained

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