Wednesday May 2, 2012

Experience the blessedness of giving by giving something special to someone today.

 

Read Deuteronomy 15:6-8;  2 Corinthians 9:6-12

 

Every Christian I’ve ever met that feels blessed has been a generous giver. I’ve never met a generous believer that is grumpy and down. Yet I’ve met many, many, many believers who seek to cling to this world and to keep what they have and that are down right miserable. Interesting isn’t it?

 

Jesus said that it’s more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). When we give generously and with a grateful heart, we find that blessing that nothing else can replicate. Not only do we receive thanks from another person (which is always a blessing) but we also receive blessing from the Lord. I know this to be true even though I cringe when health, wealth and prosperity preachers pervert this truth!!! Even though I cannot give $10 to a needy person in the expectation that God will multiply that back to me 30, 60 or even 100 fold, I can give and share and be generous, knowing that God will bless me.

 

God will make all grace abound to those who are generous and these blessed souls can continue to be even more generous on every occasion. Their harvest of righteousness will overflow.  The Macedonian churches pleaded with Paul to be able to be generous with him as he took an offering to other needy churches. Their poverty welled up in rich generosity as they gave even above their means and ability. And the result for them was overflowing thanks to God. Can we receive a greater reward than hearing people praise God and turn to Him in adoration? Is there any greater joy than knowing that our one act of generosity has caused more people to praise and adore the one, true living God?

Prayer:

¥ Pray that our cell leaders would be wise in the way they lead and conduct cell. Pray that we would see more cell leaders be raised up and that every single person in your congregation would be joined to a cell group. Pray that cells will grow in trust, in adoration of God, in knowledge and in their reaching out to the surrounding community.

¥ Pray for the work of Shiloh Church ministries. Pray that God would bless them with all their needs - financial, material and personal, so that they can continue to bring the blessing of salvation to those they serve.