Generosity honors God, because Giving flows out of hearts that reflect the
heart of Jesus.
Has anyone ever given to you generously?
Proverbs 11:28. Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
We trust in so many things throughout the day. We trust the refrigerator and our roof kept working over the night and that our car will still be in the garage and will start the next morning. Think about
in comparison and contrast: Trusting in something is quite different than trusting in someone. People move around, not just physically but attitudinally as well. Trusting in God is trusting in a person--a worthy person to trust if not the ONLY person to trust. The Psalmist had this down when he he writes (20:7),
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
We can trust in what
can run out, however we can trust in Who will always be there.
Proverbs 23:4-5 warns us to not trust in wealth and 3:5-6 warns us to not even trust ourselves--trusting in God alone is the best alternative! Trusting in riches will bring its fall whether the riches were expressed in houses, stocks, banks, or business adventure. Everything will have its fall. Everything but God. Cliche? Perhaps. So how does this practically work its way out?
There
are no commands in the Bible to trust in things like riches, only in God. The righteous are God’s people, meaning those who live by faith in Jehovah God. Since the righteous trust in God they will thrive in
life like a green leaf. Green, not brown leaves of the fall preparing
for death, but the green of spring with the whole season ahead of them. Leaves
are green because they are taking in the resource of the Sun, and for those in the faith, taking in the Son.
There is one caveat: many have run into a trap when
thinking about riches: If you have them you must be blessed by God; if you
don’t have them then you are not blessed by God. Why is this a wrong belief?
It is God who
bless you and gives to you so that you “will abound in every good work” on His
behalf. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
There are more ways to thrive in life than by what you have. The inner life of the Spirit of God transforms you and
gives you holy character and a virtue noticeable to others. This is of great value in the eyes of God. He gives you LIFE,
real, bubbling life inside because you are connected to Him and his love! When you are close to God, you are content like a child on a parent's lap—safe and
assured. (1Tim 6:6-7; 17-19)
Whatever we have ultimately comes from God. Even our
abilities to think, feel, work, plan, everything. Deuteronomy 8:18 "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to
produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors,
as it is today."
Giving is joy--to God and to others. When
people give to you, there is a grace that is extended to you in Jesus’ name and
you feel that grace. But there is also a grace extended to the giver. 2 Corinthians 8:7, "But since you excel in everything—in
faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you—see that you also excel
in this grace of giving."
In this grace
of giving.
Hmmm.
You perhaps have heard the phrase: What goes around, comes around.
This is actually a biblical principle: "You reap what you sow" (Gal 6:7). 2 Corinthians 8:13-14 puts a “gracious”
spin on that sowing and reaping with a positive purpose: equality (or what
I’d call “reciprocal faith”). Paul writes, Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard
pressed, but that there might be
equality. At the present time your
plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality...
(or a reciprocity that is based on faith!)
My family has been blessed by others' generosity. We have had the opportunity to bless others with the grace of giving. Many times I miss being able to be more gracious; financially we just can't right now. If I look beyond "the riches" thing though, I can be generous in many other ways: time, talents, letters, notes of encouragement, an invitation to lunch or over to our house for supper, to name a few.
As you meditate on the verses above and their truths, listen for how God will engage you accordingly.