Encouragement: Blessed giving

Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Proverbs 22:9

A generous person will be blessed,
for he gives some of his food to the poor.

Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 22:9). Biblical Studies Press.

I have been on a quest over the last couple of years trying to come to terms with how giving is a part of my relationship with God. In my first studying on giving I became very aware of regulatory giving. Tithing, first fruits etc. God can do wonderful things when people tithe. But the giving relationship with God goes far beyond obligation giving. I am not saying you have to give far more than the tithe, but it is the attitude of the giving that is so important.

God has put into our hearts the need to give. He as asked us to love one another. When we give out of thankfulness of what we have. Then the joy of giving fills our hearts.

Sometimes God surprises us with riches we did not expect. Sometimes we work hard for our money. Thing is, God gave us the talent to do what we do to make the money. So the question we should ask God when we reflect on our wealth is "God, what is this for?"

Our lives are filled with opportunities to give. We can give money, things, food, our time, or talents. When we give we are not just restricted to the Sunday offering plate. When we discern a need and we feel in our hearts that this is an opportunity to be a cheerful giver of God, then take the opportunity to Praise God with a special offering and even better if you have done it in secret. Giving not out of obligation but out of joy and in that joy that you may be blessed as our psalm suggests.

Someone once pointed out to me that anyone who has less than you is poor from your point of reference. Make sure you do not miss their need.

One way to understand the joy of giving is to look at how we feel at christmas. Think of the joy we feel when we prepare and give gifts to each other. Most instances the giver has more joy than the receiver.

When we raise this to the level of giving in our relationship to God the same joy is in the giving.

I have often felt uncomfortable when someone has given to me. Where I am on the receiving end. My pride stands in the way of me freely receiving. I have tried to learn to graciously accept God's gifts and ask Him "What is that for, God"

Some times as a receiver you are the end point of the gift, sometimes the gift enables you to do other things that keep the grace of Gods giving spirit moving. The receiver plays a huge part in God's plan, in that they have been chosen as an outlet for the blessing of God to flow. Both the blessing of the giver and the blessing of the receiver.

Be generous, give some of your own food to the poor, be blessed.

Amen

Music Encouragement Thank You For Giving To The Lord ~ Ray Boltz