For the past forty years, God has shown us that we
cannot out-give Him. The more resources we donate toward the advancement of His
kingdom, the more resources He pours into our lives. No matter my request, God gives
a greater blessing than I asked for and I can rejoice in Him as did David in
this psalm…
O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. (Psalm 21:1–4)
As David said, he asked for his heart’s desire and God
gave it —
along with rich blessings and a golden crown. He asked for life — God gave
him eternal life.
David also knew that giving is sacrificial. At one
point, he refused to give to God anything that cost him nothing. This puts the
boot to “name it and claim it” theology that makes its appeal for giving by
what we will get back. Instead of giving being a spontaneous action prompted by
a burden given by the Holy Spirit, such appeals are more about “what’s in this
for me?”
David knew that biblical giving comes with a sense of
sacrifice. Money may be scarce but God asks for a donation anyway, or time is
already full yet God asks for a time commitment. Biblical giving is more like, “I
cannot see how I can do this, but because I trust You, I will give anyway.”
As for the results, God’s reward for giving is based
on the faith that goes with the donation, rather than the size of the donation.
The widow was praised for giving all that she had, only two small coins. She trusted
God to supply any personal loss resulting from her donation. Those who give in
faith do the same. No matter the size of their donation, they trust God to take
care of their needs.
My gifts may have value, but God can get whatever is
needed without using my resources. He encourages generosity because this is a
God-like thing to do. Besides, I can trust Him to supply all my needs because
He said He would. He even said He would give “exceedingly abundantly above all
we can ask or imagine.”
As today’s devotional reading says, God’s answers to
our prayers is like a multiplying glass — His answer is always more abundant
our requests!
1 comment:
Thanks for the reminder of God's generosity. We read in 21st Century Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, "Love is impartial and universal in its spiritualization and generosity. The sick can recover when they pray, or are prayed for. The infinite Source calls out, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.”
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