WHATS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS GIVING
"God gives liberally; man divides it badly." - Adam Clarke
Believe it or not, your attitude toward giving can say alot about you as a Christian.
It speaks volumes about the condition of your heart.
It determines what kind of "eye" you have.
It signifies on what level of Faith you are actually walking.
It manifests to all if you are being a good steward of what the Lord has placed in your care.
It demonstrates if your life is well-pleasing in His sight.
Lastly, it shows how attached or unattached you are to this world and its treasures and even where your eternal soul is headed.
1. The Condition of Your Heart
Proverbs 11:24 - "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."
Proverbs 11:25 - "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given unto you...For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
Romans 12:8 - "...he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity..."
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also 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..."
The "liberal soul" is one that gives freely and fully in the true spirit of love
Acts 20:35 - He recognizes that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."
On the other hand, the miserly, stingy, penny-pincher withholds blessings from others because he feels that, by giving, he robs himself.
Giving should always be done plentifully, liberally, and faithfully. It should never be carried out with a sinister design or out of respect of persons. In fact, God only accepts that which is done out of the pure motive to glorify Him.
Unfortunately, many today in the Body of Christ give out of a selfish motive, seeking to further their own influence or prosperity. In fact, some ministries even encourage such base and selfish ends. Resultantly, many will not give unless they get some tangible gift in return.
Barnes' Notes adds this comment - "In nothing, therefore, is it more important than to examine the motives by which we give...However liberal may be our benefactions, yet God may see that there is no sincerity, and may hate the spirit with which it is done."
Giving should always be voluntary and cheerful. It must be prompted by the heart and not by the head or human reasoning. Many times one will feel moved by the Holy Spirit to give to a certain need, only to fail to come through in the end because he allowed self-interests, pride, corrupt passions, stinginess, and greed to hinder.
O Christian, what is in your heart today? When the Holy Spirit moves upon you to give, does your heart gladly respond with "Yes, Lord," or do you find yourself kicking against the pricks because of some improper attachment that has a hold of you? Do you find yourself asking, "What is in this for me? What will I gain by my giving?"
2. The Kind Of "Eye" You Have
Proverbs 22:9 - "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed..."
Proverbs 23:6 - "Eat not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats."
Proverbs 28:22 - He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him."
Matthew 20:15 - "Is it lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"
Mark 7:21-23 - "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed...an evil eye...All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
In Scripture, the "bountiful eye" is contrasted with the "evil eye." What is the difference?
The "bountiful eye" is one that looks for opportunities to bless others. It offers a pleasant look and a liberal hand.
On the other hand, the "evil eye" is envious, covetous, and begrudging of any good coming to another.
A person with an "evil eye" wants all the good for himself. He is constantly grieving over the success or prosperity of others and will do everything he can to pull them down from their place of excellence - including withholding blessings from them. He is selfish, stingy, and at times very mean.
3. Your Level Of Faith
Proverbs 11:24 - "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth..."
Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work...(As it is written, He that dispersed abroad...his righteousness remaineth for ever."
Barnes' Notes comments - "The divine blessing rests upon the liberal: and while every person should make a proper provision for his family, every one should give liberally, confiding in God that He will furnish the supplies for our future needs. Let this maxim be borne in mind, that no one is usually made the poorer by being liberal...The sense is, 'If you give liberally you are to expect that God will furnish you with the means, so that you will be able to abound more and more in it.' You are to expect that He will abundantly qualify you for doing good in every way, and that He will furnish you with all that is needful for this. The man who gives, therefore, should have faith in God. He should expect that God will bless him in it; and the experience of the Christian world may be appealed to in proof that people are not made poor by liberality."
It takes Faith to be a Giving person. Unbelief makes an individual coldhearted, tightfisted, and ungenerous.
The unbelieving person sees giving as a loss, while the Faith-inspired donor sees it as a gain.
When we give as the Lord directs, we demonstrate that we believe what His Word says -
Even though we share our gifts with others - "scattereth," we will increase in the end.
As we bless others, He, in turn, will have individuals bless us -
"good measure" - full measure;
"pressed down" - as figs or grapes in a bucket so that more will fill the "measure;"
"shaken together" - making it more compact;
"running over" - so full to overflowing;
"shall men give into your bosom" - men will fill our aprons full
If we have Strong Faith, we will definitely be a Giver, standing on the Promise that "God is able to make all grace abound" towards us. As we give in obedience to the Lord's promptings, we can expect His wondrous blessings and favor in return. Our obedience opens up the windows of heaven for all kinds of temporal and spiritual blessings to come our way.
4. A Good Steward
1 Timothy 6:17 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate."
Barnes' Notes - "...He who is rich today, has no security that he will be tomorrow, and if he shall be rich tomorrow, he has no certainty that his riches will meet his necessities then. A man whose house is in flames, or who is shipwrecked, or whose child lies dying, or who is himself in the agonizes of death, can derive no advantage from the fact that he is richer than other people..."
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to admonish those who were rich to take heed of pride. They were not to value themselves above others because of their wealth. On the contrary, they were to consider themselves as wise and responsible stewards before God.
What was their responsibility? They had a duty. They were given an abundance not to hoard for selfish reasons, but to distribute as the Lord directed. As their riches were abundant, so were their "good works" expected to be. They were to be ready and willing to share their blessings - to be liberal and bountiful, never manifesting partiality or favor unto certain individuals while neglecting others.
5. A Life That Is Well-Pleasing To God
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "...for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Matthew Henry - "God loveth a cheerful giver, and what may not those hope to receive who are the objects of divine love? Can a man be a loser by doing that with which God is pleased? May not such a one be sure that he shall some way or other be a gainer? Nay, are not the love and favour of God better than all other things, better than life itself?"
No one can possibly be a Christian who is well-pleasing in God's sight unless he is a "cheerful giver." To possess a selfish and stingy disposition is very grievous to the Holy Spirit and quenches His fire and power in one's life.
Only those who readily and freely give out of a pure heart win His divine favor and blessing.
6. Your Eternal Soul
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God...That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
As mentioned earlier, the attitude toward giving manifests the true condition of the heart.
Those who have wealth will be inclined to either "trust in uncertain riches" or "in the living God." Either they will be dependent on their resources or on the Lord.
Money or God will be their Master.
Hence, this will determine the eternal state of their soul.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 - So many have fallen for the "love of money" trap, and resultantly, "have erred from the faith," and drowned their souls in "destruction and perdition."
Nonetheless, the believer who is walking with Jesus and is a "cheerful giver" will "lay up in store" for himself "a good foundation against the time to come," while laying "hold on eternal life."
Are you a "cheerful giver"?
Do you have a "bountiful eye"?
Is the glory and honor of God your one and only motive for Giving?
Do you have Faith to believe that Jesus will bless you each and every time that you give?
Are you laying up treasures in heaven as you obey Him in your giving here on earth?
Remember - "No one is usually made the poorer by being liberal."
God will see to it that every "cheerful giver" will be blessed!
That's His promise!
May God Bless His Word.
Believe it or not, your attitude toward giving can say alot about you as a Christian.
It speaks volumes about the condition of your heart.
It determines what kind of "eye" you have.
It signifies on what level of Faith you are actually walking.
It manifests to all if you are being a good steward of what the Lord has placed in your care.
It demonstrates if your life is well-pleasing in His sight.
Lastly, it shows how attached or unattached you are to this world and its treasures and even where your eternal soul is headed.
1. The Condition of Your Heart
Proverbs 11:24 - "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."
Proverbs 11:25 - "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given unto you...For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
Romans 12:8 - "...he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity..."
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also 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..."
The "liberal soul" is one that gives freely and fully in the true spirit of love
Acts 20:35 - He recognizes that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."
On the other hand, the miserly, stingy, penny-pincher withholds blessings from others because he feels that, by giving, he robs himself.
Giving should always be done plentifully, liberally, and faithfully. It should never be carried out with a sinister design or out of respect of persons. In fact, God only accepts that which is done out of the pure motive to glorify Him.
Unfortunately, many today in the Body of Christ give out of a selfish motive, seeking to further their own influence or prosperity. In fact, some ministries even encourage such base and selfish ends. Resultantly, many will not give unless they get some tangible gift in return.
Barnes' Notes adds this comment - "In nothing, therefore, is it more important than to examine the motives by which we give...However liberal may be our benefactions, yet God may see that there is no sincerity, and may hate the spirit with which it is done."
Giving should always be voluntary and cheerful. It must be prompted by the heart and not by the head or human reasoning. Many times one will feel moved by the Holy Spirit to give to a certain need, only to fail to come through in the end because he allowed self-interests, pride, corrupt passions, stinginess, and greed to hinder.
O Christian, what is in your heart today? When the Holy Spirit moves upon you to give, does your heart gladly respond with "Yes, Lord," or do you find yourself kicking against the pricks because of some improper attachment that has a hold of you? Do you find yourself asking, "What is in this for me? What will I gain by my giving?"
2. The Kind Of "Eye" You Have
Proverbs 22:9 - "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed..."
Proverbs 23:6 - "Eat not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats."
Proverbs 28:22 - He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him."
Matthew 20:15 - "Is it lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"
Mark 7:21-23 - "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed...an evil eye...All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
In Scripture, the "bountiful eye" is contrasted with the "evil eye." What is the difference?
The "bountiful eye" is one that looks for opportunities to bless others. It offers a pleasant look and a liberal hand.
On the other hand, the "evil eye" is envious, covetous, and begrudging of any good coming to another.
A person with an "evil eye" wants all the good for himself. He is constantly grieving over the success or prosperity of others and will do everything he can to pull them down from their place of excellence - including withholding blessings from them. He is selfish, stingy, and at times very mean.
3. Your Level Of Faith
Proverbs 11:24 - "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth..."
Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work...(As it is written, He that dispersed abroad...his righteousness remaineth for ever."
Barnes' Notes comments - "The divine blessing rests upon the liberal: and while every person should make a proper provision for his family, every one should give liberally, confiding in God that He will furnish the supplies for our future needs. Let this maxim be borne in mind, that no one is usually made the poorer by being liberal...The sense is, 'If you give liberally you are to expect that God will furnish you with the means, so that you will be able to abound more and more in it.' You are to expect that He will abundantly qualify you for doing good in every way, and that He will furnish you with all that is needful for this. The man who gives, therefore, should have faith in God. He should expect that God will bless him in it; and the experience of the Christian world may be appealed to in proof that people are not made poor by liberality."
It takes Faith to be a Giving person. Unbelief makes an individual coldhearted, tightfisted, and ungenerous.
The unbelieving person sees giving as a loss, while the Faith-inspired donor sees it as a gain.
When we give as the Lord directs, we demonstrate that we believe what His Word says -
Even though we share our gifts with others - "scattereth," we will increase in the end.
As we bless others, He, in turn, will have individuals bless us -
"good measure" - full measure;
"pressed down" - as figs or grapes in a bucket so that more will fill the "measure;"
"shaken together" - making it more compact;
"running over" - so full to overflowing;
"shall men give into your bosom" - men will fill our aprons full
If we have Strong Faith, we will definitely be a Giver, standing on the Promise that "God is able to make all grace abound" towards us. As we give in obedience to the Lord's promptings, we can expect His wondrous blessings and favor in return. Our obedience opens up the windows of heaven for all kinds of temporal and spiritual blessings to come our way.
4. A Good Steward
1 Timothy 6:17 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate."
Barnes' Notes - "...He who is rich today, has no security that he will be tomorrow, and if he shall be rich tomorrow, he has no certainty that his riches will meet his necessities then. A man whose house is in flames, or who is shipwrecked, or whose child lies dying, or who is himself in the agonizes of death, can derive no advantage from the fact that he is richer than other people..."
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to admonish those who were rich to take heed of pride. They were not to value themselves above others because of their wealth. On the contrary, they were to consider themselves as wise and responsible stewards before God.
What was their responsibility? They had a duty. They were given an abundance not to hoard for selfish reasons, but to distribute as the Lord directed. As their riches were abundant, so were their "good works" expected to be. They were to be ready and willing to share their blessings - to be liberal and bountiful, never manifesting partiality or favor unto certain individuals while neglecting others.
5. A Life That Is Well-Pleasing To God
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "...for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Matthew Henry - "God loveth a cheerful giver, and what may not those hope to receive who are the objects of divine love? Can a man be a loser by doing that with which God is pleased? May not such a one be sure that he shall some way or other be a gainer? Nay, are not the love and favour of God better than all other things, better than life itself?"
No one can possibly be a Christian who is well-pleasing in God's sight unless he is a "cheerful giver." To possess a selfish and stingy disposition is very grievous to the Holy Spirit and quenches His fire and power in one's life.
Only those who readily and freely give out of a pure heart win His divine favor and blessing.
6. Your Eternal Soul
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God...That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
As mentioned earlier, the attitude toward giving manifests the true condition of the heart.
Those who have wealth will be inclined to either "trust in uncertain riches" or "in the living God." Either they will be dependent on their resources or on the Lord.
Money or God will be their Master.
Hence, this will determine the eternal state of their soul.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 - So many have fallen for the "love of money" trap, and resultantly, "have erred from the faith," and drowned their souls in "destruction and perdition."
Nonetheless, the believer who is walking with Jesus and is a "cheerful giver" will "lay up in store" for himself "a good foundation against the time to come," while laying "hold on eternal life."
Are you a "cheerful giver"?
Do you have a "bountiful eye"?
Is the glory and honor of God your one and only motive for Giving?
Do you have Faith to believe that Jesus will bless you each and every time that you give?
Are you laying up treasures in heaven as you obey Him in your giving here on earth?
Remember - "No one is usually made the poorer by being liberal."
God will see to it that every "cheerful giver" will be blessed!
That's His promise!
May God Bless His Word.
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