Yesterday we read about giving generously beyond our means. Today we continue to read about giving as Paul resumed the topic in chapter 9. Generosity of your money, time, gifts, and self should be a natural result of The Holy Spirit in your life. As you grow more like Christ, you have more faith to give, more longing to be generous, and more ability to freely offer yourself.
I know it can be frightening to consider giving to someone else when you barely have enough to make ends meet. But there is work to be done and you are appointed to do it. God doesn’t want the leaders of your church to force you, beg you, or shame in you in to being charitable. He wants it to come from your love and faith. He wants you to love people as He does. How does it make The Lord appear to the world when His representatives are tightfisted and afraid to share?
We are encouraged to have faith and give liberally in verses 6-9,
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
Do you trust your Loving Father enough to take care of His children? Do you trust your Lord enough to feed His sheep? Do you trust in Him enough to be His hands and feet and do the work waiting to be done? Don’t you know God will take care of you? Don’t you believe that God will supply your needs? How can you convince someone else to rely on God if you are not willing to rely on Him yourself? God promises that when you give, He will do more than simply supply your need. Verses 10-11 read,
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”
When you give what you have, even when you give beyond your means God will supply your needs and multiply the seed so that you can continue that good work and the good work will prosper. And people will thank God, they will glorify Him and His kingdom will grow. You know what else? They will thank God for you and they will be praying for you! How sweet is that? All you need is a little bit of faith to go ahead and give.
Here are a couple of other promises in the Word that encourage you to give even if you do not think you have enough.
Malachi 3:10-12 reads,
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”
Luke 6:38 reads,
“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Proverbs 19:17 says,
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.”
Also Luke 6:30, Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 22:9, and more. I challenge you to give to someone in need. Give beyond your means. See what God will do through you and even for you.