#blessingofgiving – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 22:24-25 (NLT)

24 Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,

25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Song of Songs 5:8 (NLT)

8 Make this promise, O women of Jerusalem— If you find my lover, tell him I am weak with love.

The Gospel Message:

2 Corinthians 9:6 (NLT)

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

Observation:

What type of giver are you? The Apostle Paul describes two in the letter to the church at Corinth. One gives sparingly and the second gives generously.

If you want to enjoy the spiritual blessings that come from giving, you must give gladly, and not of necessity.

I have found it to be true that you really can’t beat God giving, no matter how much you give. Notice what the Bible says about the blessings of those who give gladly and generously.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Prayer:

Father, our hearts are so thankful for the inexpressible gifts of love that we have we received from You.

Father, we ask that You would condition our hearts to give gladly and generously to others in the manner that You have given to us.

2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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What Does God Want From You?

Text:

Proverbs 21:3 (NLT)

3 The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

Observation:

I read the above verse this morning and it is stuck in my mind. So, I have been meditating on it for a little while.

I am reminded of the advice that I have heard from some who have said if you want better results, you should ask better questions. So, I looked to the Bible to help me ask better questions.

Psalm 116:12 (NLT)

12 What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me?

I have found that you can find better questions in the Bible and you can also find better answers.

Psalm 51:15-17 (NLT)

15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

My Soul Sings:

Lyrics from the hymn, “Take My Life and Let It Be” by Frances Havergal:

“Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

*Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in endless praise.”

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus into the world to give His all for us. Father, give us a burning desire in our hearts to give our all to You as our reasonable sacrifice for all that You have done for us.

Romans 12:1 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Father, take our lives and let them be consecrated Lord to Thee. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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How Much Should You Give?

Text:

Acts 20:33-35 (NIV)

33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.

35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

Observation:

The Apostle Paul is one of my mentors. I have studied, taught, preached, and written devotionally through his letters extensively.

I treasure the message he gives in Acts 20 because it is a farewell message. I’m impressed, encouraged, and empowered by the last words of a spiritual giant like Paul.

It’s in the DNA of God’s beloved children to be givers, Paul said it, James said it, and Jesus said it, and set the example by doing it. You can’t beat God giving, no matter how hard you try; this song is stirring my soul.

James 1:17-18 (NIV)

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

We are the receivers, and the greater blessing comes in giving. What do you have that you did not receive?

1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)

14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

I like the way Paul concluded his farewell message, and this is the way I close today’s word of encouragement.

Acts 20:36 (NIV)

36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, I thank You for forming us with the DNA to be givers.

Father, we are so thankful for the blessings of Your presence, peace, power, and provisions that You give to us so graciously, and abundantly. Father, may we be willing to give more, and receive more joy in being gracious givers. And all who agree; together we say a hearty, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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The Characteristics of the Giver

Text:

2 Corinthians 8:5 (KJV)

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Observation:

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians gives the readers an example to follow when it comes to giving. He recalls the Macedonian believers telling of how they excelled in giving. He highlighted how they first gave themselves to the Lord. This is of first importance.

Romans 12:1 (KJV)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

What is your status? Have you given yourself fully to the Lord? Are you a cheerful giver? Notice that law commands; Paul did not command them to give. Rather, giving is a grace, and it is consensual, and it gives joyfully,

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NLT)

8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

If you are a believer, it is because you are the recipient of the amazing grace of God; it’s a love gift. The old saying is true, “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving”.

John 3:16 (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

You are never more pleasing in the eyes of God than when you follow His example of loving and giving to others.

Hebrews 13:16 (HCSB)

16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, draw us closer to You by the office work of the Holy Spirit. Father, transform our hearts until we are willing to surrender our all to You.

Father, may the love that You have poured into our hearts be a river of love and giving that flows out of us, and into the lives of others. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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Have You Experienced the Joy and Blessing of Sharing?

Text:

Philippians 4:14-17 (HCSB)

14 Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.

15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent ?gifts? for my need several times.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

Observation:

There is a blessing in store for those who pay attention to others, and are willing to help others.

I read something recently, I don’t remember the source, but it pointed out that the people who are encouragers are people who also need encouraging.

I can’t think of a better example of this than the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul preached encouragement, he practiced encouragement, and he received encouragement.

Notice what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi earlier in this letter. Think about this encouragement, and allow it to speak into your heart.

Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB)

3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

4 Everyone should look out not ?only? for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

I encourage you to take inventory of your life. How have you been blessed by the Lord? Look at the people near you. Pay attention to their needs. Don’t be like the person who said, “I’m too poor to pay attention”.

What you give to others will come back to bless you. Notice what Paul said to those who had given to meet his pressing needs.

Philippians 4:16-17 (HCSB)

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent ?gifts? for my need several times.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

Be encouraged by the hymn written by Doris Akers.

“You can’t beat God giving,

No matter how hard you try

And just as sure as you are living

And the Lord is in heaven on high

The more you give the more He gives to you

But keep on giving because it’s really true that

You can’t beat God giving,

No matter how you try.”

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for all the blessings that You have given to your children.

Father, I ask that you would open our eyes to see the needs of others, and stir our hearts to be willing to share with them what you have given to us.

Father, help us to be like Jesus in our attitude toward others. Father, help us to know the blessing of giving, and receiving. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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The Sufficiency of God’s Provisions

Text:

Philippians 4:18-19 (HCSB)

18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

The partnership of God with His people to provide for our needs is an amazing thing to participate in and receive.

What an amazing gift from God that Paul, and the saints of the ages have received from God’s partnership with His people in serving one another.

Paul was able to say, “God provides for all of my needs”. Further, he was able to say, “I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance”.

Who do you think received the greatest benefit; Paul or Epaphroditus? I say it was Epaphroditus, and I believe Paul would agree.

Philippians 4:17 (HCSB)

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I thank You for providing for us our daily bread; that we lack nothing. So, we conclude this prayer of praise and thanksgiving with the prayer of Paul.

Philippians 4:20 (HCSB)

20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

—

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Helping Others Who Are Going Through Hardships

Text:

Philippians 4:14-17 (HCSB)

14 Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.

15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent ?gifts? for my need several times.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

Observation:

The church at Philippi was one of the churches that voluntarily and sacrificially gave of themselves in what Paul described as, “My hardship”.

They were willing to help out in giving to meet the pressing needs of Paul and his ministry. Notice that Paul mentioned that at one time they were the only one.

They were doing for Paul what he had encouraged them to do for others. Notice what Paul said to them here.

Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB)

3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

4 Everyone should look out not ?only? for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

When we give to others and support their kingdom building ministry we are making an investment that will be rewarded in this life and in eternity.

Philippians 4:17 (HCSB)

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

When you give to others you are making an investment that results in blessings that keep on giving. Are you investing in the lives of others? Think about the profit that is increasing to your account in the Bank of Heaven.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You praise and thanksgiving for who You are, and for Your grace and mercy to Your people. Father, give us willing hearts to serve others by sharing from what you have given to us.

Father, thank You for being Jehovah Jireh; the God who provides for His people. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Get More Joy from Getting or Giving?

Text:

Proverbs 11:24-25 (HCSB)

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.

Observation:

Today I have the word giving on my heart. So, I asked myself this question. What has God freely given to me that I am now giving to others in His name? Today, I thank the Lord for the life experience he has given to me, and that I have the privilege and blessing of sharing freely with others.

I have been touched and moved today by our focal passage from he Word of God, and by the lyrics of the hymn by the gospel writer Doris Akers, “Your Can’t Beat God Giving”.

“You can’t beat God giving,

No matter how hard you try

And just as sure as you are living

And the Lord is in heaven on high

The more you give the more He gives to you

But keep on giving because its really true that

You can’t beat God giving,

No matter how you try.”

Why not consider what God has freely given to you, and make a decision to freely give it to others for His glory, and as a deposit in the life of some needy person. Take an inventory of your blessings, and see if the promise of the Word will not become real in your life. Notice that blessings and influence comes from what we give.

Luke 6:38 (HCSB)

38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Prayer:

Father God, I thank You so much for the generous way that You give to Your people.

Father, help us to show how deeply Your love abides in our hearts by how we freely give to others what You have freely given to us. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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