There seems to be found no greater contradiction than a mean
or niggardly Christian - such a person is a� "foreigner living
inside a native's body"
For God so loved the world� that He
gave..........� John 3 :
16
so says probably the Bibles greatest and most well known
verse�����
Everywhere around us is the evidence of God's boundless gifts
- creation in all its aspects shows the bountiful hand of a
loving and thoughtful Creator� God.
The Ocean teems with marine life.
The insect world - swarms of countless varieties;� bird life
and its flocks that can even darken the sky.
And the earth itself� - mountains ablaze with� endless carpets
of flowers, plant-life, forests, fruit trees, vegetables� -� a
myriad� of� provision surrounds us.���
Plants and fruit for food,� herbs for health,� all needs
anticipated and provided for by our Creator / God
And under the microscope,� an ordinary drop of water reveals�
a miniature Universe of microbes and organisms essential for our
existence.
Someone has estimated that there are 3 million types of living
creatures on this planet,�� such variety,� abundance,� fullness,�
bounty .....
It has been said that there is no problem with the food supply
on this wonderful planet� -� only in its distribution to hungry�
mouths��
(Man's management is the problem here !)
Every good and perfect Gift has come� down from the Father
of Lights��� James 1 :17
And the Universe - as many planets and stars as there are
grains of sands on all the� beaches of all the world -�
limitless,� infinite�� -� the latest estimate of known space is
100� Billion Galaxies� each with 100 Billion stars�
Our God is revealed throughout all creation as a bountiful
loving God of supply and provision.
And personally� -� ask any mature Christian about his
provision and sustaining power.
But back to Christians��� and�� Giving�
..............
One Man of God said that he would never baptize anyone except
their wallet went in with them !
A� Christian's� attitude� towards� Money �reveals� and�
displays� their� inward�
motivation.�������������������������������������������������������������������������������
GIVING� is a grace that every Born-again Christian should
display,� constantly,
(but within their means of course)
But wisdom is needed, and there are pitfalls - otherwise man's
need is a morass that will drain all you have and are, plus your
very self also !
From experience ….. some TIPS
............
Give according to Need�� -�� not� deserts
If God didn't deal with us like this,�� where would each one
of us� be !!
All of us are basically undeserving,�� but with
needs.
The well-known Parable of the Good Samaritan������������
Luke 10 : 34
He��� p o u r e d��� in the oil
and left sufficient for� his needs�� and also promised� to
meet any� extra costs !
Give� SIMPLY�� -��� Give with simplicity�� �the Word
says�� Romans 12 : 8
This basically means� -� without strings attached,�� without
obligation
The "world"� when it gives,� usually does so for
recognition,�� or to incur an obligation that one day will be
remembered and require some repayment
But� God's giving is never like that
We should never give to cause an obligation to the
receiver.
If we do that,� God invariably will not add His blessing to
it.
Our�� MOTIVE�� for the act of giving is� Vital� and the
Key.
We should give without expectation of response or
reward.
GIVE� andit shall be given unto You,� good measure,�
pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men
give into your bosom ....... � ����������������������������
����������������������������������������������� Luke 6 :
38
But this cannot become our motive either
........
God doesn't function on the barter system !
We can't manoeuvre Him into our obligation,� or get Him
obliged or indebted� to us.
To give in order to receive in return later,�� or� as an
investment into� some sort of� "spiritual bank account"� is not
valid with God.
He gives from Love only,�� and requires the same from
us.
We receive everything from God by Faith .............� we
can't earn anything.
But there is a� Spiritual Law� that comes into operation when
we give
The�� Law of� Sowing� and� Reaping .....�� as real�� as the
Law of Gravity
It is more Blessed to Give than to
receive������������������������ Acts 20 : 35
Countless Christian folk through History will testify to
this.
Giving not only produces a� good feeling within us,�� but God
repays us in� His own way and time .............. it attracts
Blessing in our lives.
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
But again,� our motives must be right.
Gods measure of Giving is different from ours
.......
He judges it from what we have left after we have given,�� not
by the size of the gift !
The widow's mite was judged greater than the gifts of the
rich�� �������������������������
����������������������������������������������� ��������� Luke
21 : 1 -4
She gave���� all her Living�� and God saw it,���� and
approved.
And this covers the� interminable question� -�� how can I�
give when I� haven't much to start� with .........� when I� have
big problems� of my� own, and such limited resources
?
Well, I have found that it is in these very times that God�
seems to test us.���� He is the God of endless provision, and
these are just times of testing to strike at our materialistic
natures, and to wean us from covetousness� and
greed.
If we can give at such times, our giving is a sacrifice,� and
He delights� in it.
Remember the widow's cruse� of oil and barrel of meal�����
1 Kings 17 : 8 - 16
Giving to God's Man first� unlocked God's bottomless provision
for her.
Sacrificial Giving is special to God� and� He responds� in His
own miraculous way -�� just ask any of� God's choicest� servants,
the Missionaries� who tithe,� the beneficiaries who are still
able to give of their means,� etc
Giving from little,� honours God above our
circumstances.
Let us give� not grudgingly,�� nor of necessity,�� for God�
loves a�� CHEERFUL giver�������������
������������������������������������� 2 Corinthians 9 : 6 -
11
Cheerfully� …�� has also been translated� ….�
Hilariously
If we have trouble getting our wallets out of out pockets
........ forget it !
God will meet his peoples needs elsewhere, and we will miss
the Blessing !
So�� give���� freely,���� willingly,���� joyously,����
blessedly
Remember ..............
��������� The Water of Life is Free���� but the pipe-work
costs Money� !
An observation� ..............
���� There are� basically only 2 types of People� in this old
World
���� GIVERS��������������� and�������� TAKERS
���� The Generous in Spirit� and deed������������� and� the
others !
This in no way is against those deservedly on benefits,� but
those whose attitude in life is to grab� and� with-hold where it
is due,� who only� know how to� Take� and�
Receive.
This is the broad but basic distinction between true
Born-Again Christians� and the world, they are (or should be) the
Givers,� the others the Takers ....� that's how it always has
been and always will be� I would guess !
Concerning��� WILLS�� and���� ESTATES :
Someone has said :
��������� Do� your� Giving������� ������ ��������� while�
you're� Living
���� ���� Then� You'll� be� Knowing������� �� where� its�
Going !!
There's probably no greater occasion for disputes� and
bitterness� amongst families than squabbles over wills and
estates - some that go on for lifetimes and cause great rifts and
divisions in families.
So -� I would suggest� …�
to make your Will�� CLEAR� and� FAIR,�� and� EQUAL� if at all
possible.
Or - it could be the cause of much trouble for the family and
relatives later on����� �������������������������������������
Luke 12 : 13, 14
Jesus refused to be drawn into such squabbles over Estates
Covetousness and greed� are the underlying motives in such
disputes
Some one has calculated that .........
��������� One sixth��� ��of Jesus words���� �were about�
Money
���� ���� One fourth��� of Jesus parables ��were concerning
Money
Our attitude to God� and His� people can basically be judged
from our� attitude towards� MONEY� and how we spend our
discretionary funds ....... our Giving !
And God is�� Watching ........... !
Finally ........
��������� " What,��� Giving� again,"��� I asked in
dismay,
���� ���� " And� must I� keep� Giving and� Giving away�
?"
��������� " Oh� No !"� said the angel,�� looking me
through,
��������� " Just Give,�� till the Master stops� Giving to you
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