Giving is sharing what we have with the Lord. God said to Aaron in Numbers 18: 20, you shall have no allotment in their land, nor shall you have any share among them; I am your share and your possession among the Israelites. Not everyone has family inheritance but everyone has an inheritance in God which we contribute in giving and sharing.
Isaiah 58: 10-12 say if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets to live in.
Jesus said in Luke 3: 11, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Jesus wants us to cultivate the art of giving and sharing. He said in Mathew 25: 40, and the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do t to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me… for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
The fear, misconception and myth surrounding doing good to strangers must be overcome by what the bible says in Colossians 3: 3, your life is hidden with Christ in God. Isaiah 54: 17 says no weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, says the LORD.
Why must we give?
The bible says in Hebrews 13: 2, do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Aside angels, wicked spirits also sometimes visit to test our hospitality and upon our failure, we will suffer the consequences. Since not all of us have the ability to discern all spirits, we must open our hearts to God’s Spirit of love, kindness, sharing and giving to the needy. Among the reasons to give are as follows:
God commands us to give
Jesus said in Luke 6: 35, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. We are to give expecting no return even from our enemies, for such is God’s will. Jesus said in Luke 6: 38, give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
God rewards the giver
Paul referred to the words of Jesus about our charge to support the weak in Acts 20: 35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Unfortunately, some of us have neglected this sacred charge. By such neglect, we weaken the faith of the poor. We expose them to the vagaries of the rich in ungodliness. We miss God’s intended blessings. We rather boast of our wealth begotten at the expense, toil and sweat of the poor who give to God out of love for the gospel.
God supports the giver
We must always remember that we do not provide for God but God first provides for us. Paul aptly said in Romans 11: 18, it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. It is God who supports us with resources and from which we are able to give. We do not support God to be resourced because he owns all wealth in his creation. We must not be stingy with God the provider.
God establishes the giver
God will always compensate us for whatever we spend on his behalf. Although giving may bring suffering sometimes, it would not last because the good Lord will always provide as Abraham said in Genesis 22: 8. The bible says in 1 Peter 5: 10 after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. God always gives back not only what we have given to him but well beyond our expectations.
God counts it as worthy
Some are suffering hardship because of Christ and it is our duty to support them financially. But for Christ Jesus, some who are suffering hardship today may be rich in the world. 3John 1: 6-8 say, you will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth. Paul enjoins us to do what is worthy in the sight of God by giving towards the needs of others especially in the body of Christ.
We give from God’s riches
We must give because God will not make us want. Paul said in Philippians 4: 19, And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Paul’s emphasis was on every need, not some need or want. Paul says God has riches for every need and he supplies our needs to glorify his name in Christ Jesus. Based on the knowledge of God’s infinite riches, David said in Psalms 23: 1, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. God will not forsake anyone who gives for his sake.
Giving shows our faith
Peter said we must support our faith in God with good deeds. Faith without supporting the same with good deeds is not sufficient. It is written in 2 Peter 1: 5-7, you must make an effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. Our motivation must come from knowledge, godliness, affection and love. We must show kindness to God.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, all we have are your for it is your hands that created them. It is out of your grace that we have received them as gifts from you for a short while for the benefit of all. In giving us the opportunity to give, please add grace to also love the art of giving in obedience in faith as one body of Christ Jesus. Let us be blessings to the needy as you instruct in your holy name, Amen!!
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