God has
surely blessed us. Since we have an abundance here in the United States it is
assumed that we can always give. So as it says in Proverbs 22:9…He who is generous will be blessed, for he
gives some of his food to the poor. Jesus instructed his followers in the
Luke version of the Sermon on the Mount…Give,
and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of
measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38 God provides for His followers so
that they can be His hands and feet to provide for others. That measure that
Jesus talked about can be enormous or tiny, our choice.
Are you
blessed? Are you sharing with others? This is convicting—I can always give
more—by giving up something in my budget that I selfishly desire…new clothes or
a visit to a favorite expensive restaurant.
Like Jesus said when Mary anointed Him with oil from an alabaster jar…For you always have the poor with you; but
you do not always have Me. Matthew 26:11 We just have choices to make—serve
God and be blessed by giving…or don’t give and don’t be blessed. .
Training Tip – Make up a Giving Game. In this game your children
are given cards to “give” food and clothes to the poor. The more they give the
more cards they get to give more. Help them to see a measure of “generosity”
and the adage that it is more blessed to give than receive. This advice was
recorded in Acts, but is not found in any of the Gospels that recorded Jesus’
words. In everything I showed you that by
working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of
the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to
receive.' Acts 20:35
Lord Jesus, help me, my children and my grandchildren
to understand how blessed we are…and how You want us to be generous not only
with those in our family, but with the poor in our community.
All
scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise
noted.
© 2013 by Mickey
M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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