- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 11,641
There is [one] who scatters, yet increases more; And there is [one] who withholds more than is right, But it [leads] to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. Proverbs 11:24-25 NKJV
From A Christmas Carol’s Scrooge to SpongeBob SquarePants Mr. Krabs, misers are seen as greedy and heartless. (Though, to be fair, Scrooge ultimately came around, and Mr. Krabs is just funny.)
What’s not funny is a cheapskate Christian. God, who gives lavishly, calls His children to similar generosity.
And if you ever worry about “giving too much,” don’t…worry, that is. If your contributions are properly motivated—to honor God and help others—the Proverbs indicate you’ll “[gain] even more,” you’ll “prosper” and “be refreshed.”
The apostle Paul warned that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), so don’t emphasize the return on your giving. The truth of today’s scripture may be more like Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:29: “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much…” The implication: your extended Christian family will be so large and generous that anything you give up for Jesus will be amply resupplied.
And don’t miss the end of Jesus’ promise:”…and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).
Prayer: Lord, everything I have comes from You. Help me to share it freely, trusting that You will supply my needs.
From A Christmas Carol’s Scrooge to SpongeBob SquarePants Mr. Krabs, misers are seen as greedy and heartless. (Though, to be fair, Scrooge ultimately came around, and Mr. Krabs is just funny.)
What’s not funny is a cheapskate Christian. God, who gives lavishly, calls His children to similar generosity.
And if you ever worry about “giving too much,” don’t…worry, that is. If your contributions are properly motivated—to honor God and help others—the Proverbs indicate you’ll “[gain] even more,” you’ll “prosper” and “be refreshed.”
The apostle Paul warned that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), so don’t emphasize the return on your giving. The truth of today’s scripture may be more like Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:29: “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much…” The implication: your extended Christian family will be so large and generous that anything you give up for Jesus will be amply resupplied.
And don’t miss the end of Jesus’ promise:”…and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).
Prayer: Lord, everything I have comes from You. Help me to share it freely, trusting that You will supply my needs.
