Day Twenty: Giving in the Midst of a Storm
The Daily Bread passage I read today really spoke to me. This pandemic has shown the absolute worst side of people and the absolute best side of people. It is true that your attitude shines through every time. The Day Seventeen blog which quotes Acts 20:35 states in the last part that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." In today's passage, 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (KJV) we read: "But this I say, He which sparingly shall reap sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you: that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work. (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever."
When you are in the midst of a storm such as the one we're all in now, the natural and instinctive reaction is to snatch everything and hoard. We all seen pictures of people fighting over toilet paper and the images of the National Guard being called to restore order. We've also seen many generous and kind acts done. My heart rejoices when I see this.
I am reminded that all acts of giving honor God. My thoughts focus on Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) which reads: "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and the first fruits of thine increase." For me this passage means that we definitely need to give as if we are giving to the Lord and not man. It makes sense when you reread the 2 Corinthians passage again. If you think that you are only giving for your own benefit, you are in fact sowing sparingly. If you think that you are giving to honor God, then you will reap bountifully. Yes, I understand the feeling that if you give now, you may not have anything later. God does honor the sacrifice though.
Proverbs 3:27 (KJV) clears things up a bit more. We read: "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." In the coming days you are going to have a lot of people asking for your help. Some people definitely will take advantage of the situation. It will be hard to distinguish between those who deserve your help and those who will screw you over. The one thing you don't want to do is withhold that help from those who deserve it. The Lord will give you the resources you need to discern who truly needs help. It would be foolhardy to make excuses and neglect these people when you do have the resources to help.
I was heartened to hear about how area congregations are pitching in to help the disenfranchised among us. They are giving of their time and other resources. That is a blessing.
When you are in the midst of a storm such as the one we're all in now, the natural and instinctive reaction is to snatch everything and hoard. We all seen pictures of people fighting over toilet paper and the images of the National Guard being called to restore order. We've also seen many generous and kind acts done. My heart rejoices when I see this.
I am reminded that all acts of giving honor God. My thoughts focus on Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) which reads: "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and the first fruits of thine increase." For me this passage means that we definitely need to give as if we are giving to the Lord and not man. It makes sense when you reread the 2 Corinthians passage again. If you think that you are only giving for your own benefit, you are in fact sowing sparingly. If you think that you are giving to honor God, then you will reap bountifully. Yes, I understand the feeling that if you give now, you may not have anything later. God does honor the sacrifice though.
Proverbs 3:27 (KJV) clears things up a bit more. We read: "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." In the coming days you are going to have a lot of people asking for your help. Some people definitely will take advantage of the situation. It will be hard to distinguish between those who deserve your help and those who will screw you over. The one thing you don't want to do is withhold that help from those who deserve it. The Lord will give you the resources you need to discern who truly needs help. It would be foolhardy to make excuses and neglect these people when you do have the resources to help.
I was heartened to hear about how area congregations are pitching in to help the disenfranchised among us. They are giving of their time and other resources. That is a blessing.
Comments
Post a Comment