Proverbs 31:20 She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
Why does God admonish us to be generous and give freely from our heart to relieve the pain, grief and sometimes the needs of others? My friend Justin Long says by tithing and the giving of offerings God knows we are keeping the windows of heaven open above our lives for the blessing of God to fall on us and others. Mal. 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
It is interesting that God puts us in a position to be blessed. God helps us be generous so that generosity comes back to us. Eccl. 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. God is trying to help us become like His Son Jesus who gave fully of Himself to everyone who asked of him from an honest heart.
It is interesting that God puts us in a position to be blessed. God helps us be generous so that generosity comes back to us. Eccl. 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. God is trying to help us become like His Son Jesus who gave fully of Himself to everyone who asked of him from an honest heart.
Generosity is a hard concept for many to understand in this selfish world we live in. This is the day and age of consumptive living and the glutenous slogans like “Take what you can get before it runs out.” are all around us. Constant promotion of chasing wealth is surrounding us and it becomes harder to hear the soft sound of generosity and helpfulness toward each other. Jesus asks a good question in Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
What stuff out there in the world system is worth the price of your soul? How does a life of scheming and taking, keep the windows of heaven open over your life? It doesn’t because hands that are closed cannot hold any more of anything, but hands that are open have room for more blessings to come your way to be enjoyed and passed on.
God tells us to take stock of our ways and methods and to make sure our ways are not a dead end. Hag. 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. If everything you are doing is resulting into a non-heavenly return then you have to stop and consider your ways.
What stuff out there in the world system is worth the price of your soul? How does a life of scheming and taking, keep the windows of heaven open over your life? It doesn’t because hands that are closed cannot hold any more of anything, but hands that are open have room for more blessings to come your way to be enjoyed and passed on.
God tells us to take stock of our ways and methods and to make sure our ways are not a dead end. Hag. 1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. If everything you are doing is resulting into a non-heavenly return then you have to stop and consider your ways.
Keep the windows of heaven open over your life and stay generous. Give of yourself to what is needed in the kingdom of God. If it is time, then give time. If it is monetary needs, then give it. If it is help then give of yourselves, but keep the windows of heaven open. Eccl. 11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you do not know what evil shall be upon the earth.
God seems to be saying to give to seven needs and ventures, give to eight and more because we do not know when trouble comes our way and we become the one in need. God forbid that this trouble should come but, if it does, we will have seven and eight giving to us during that time. We will be living under an open heaven because we had been living a generous life and now we are reaping what we had sown.
Oh, I know that it is not always that cut and dry because we do not see the beginning to the end. However, God says give and it shall be given to us. Luke 6:38 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 to you.
God seems to be saying to give to seven needs and ventures, give to eight and more because we do not know when trouble comes our way and we become the one in need. God forbid that this trouble should come but, if it does, we will have seven and eight giving to us during that time. We will be living under an open heaven because we had been living a generous life and now we are reaping what we had sown.
Oh, I know that it is not always that cut and dry because we do not see the beginning to the end. However, God says give and it shall be given to us. Luke 6:38 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 to you.
How did God make sure there would be an open heaven over mankind? He gave generously of Himself. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved that He gave. There it is. God is a giver. We are His children and we are to become givers like our heavenly Father.
We are also to bring blessing in this greedy world. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the words of Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 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.
This is often heard with a bit of skepticism in our Western thinking. However, Paul who evangelized most of the known world in his day had seen the power of giving and he lived under an open heaven during his whole ministry. Giving became his way of life and because of Paul’s generosity, we are still enjoying the fruit of his ministry today. Yes, Lord, help us remain generous while we are on this earth and keep the windows of heaven open above us. Amen!
We are also to bring blessing in this greedy world. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the words of Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 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.
This is often heard with a bit of skepticism in our Western thinking. However, Paul who evangelized most of the known world in his day had seen the power of giving and he lived under an open heaven during his whole ministry. Giving became his way of life and because of Paul’s generosity, we are still enjoying the fruit of his ministry today. Yes, Lord, help us remain generous while we are on this earth and keep the windows of heaven open above us. Amen!
True word Larry. The difference between believing in God and actually believing God is where our courage comes from to move forward in hope and faith. Blessings to you bro.
"Better to give than receive" this verse is sheer nonsense, unless one trusts God, quite often the problem is that although people "believe in God", they do not really "believe God".