Prayer: Father, Jesus is a tree of Life to me. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He has given me eternal Life. I ask for instruction and insight. Your servant is listening. Amen.
Reading: Proverbs 11: 24-25
24 One gives freely, yet gains even more.
Another withholds unjustly, and comes to poverty.
25 A soul who blesses will prosper,
and one who gives water will himself be satisfied.
Attention: Have you ever known someone who is a giver? Did they give and give and become hurt that others do not reciprocate their generosity? Do they give to others as an extension of their love language and feel crushed when people do not grasp what they are doing and do likewise? If you are a giver and you identify with the description above, then I want to give you encouragement.
The greatest giver in the world is God. We all know John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,” God gave and gave and keeps on giving without expectation of return. What is our motive? Do we give expecting people will notice and give and reciprocate in kind? Do we hold others hostage to the level of our giving?
If we are Christ to the world, and we are to be Christ to the world, what is our giving style? Do we give to be noticed or seen? Do we give anonymously? Are we a giver and not an entitled taker? Am I becoming more like Christ?
Giving or generosity is a lifestyle and an attitude. Solomon gives us wise counsel, some other worldly advice. It does not make sense that one would “give freely, yet gains even more…. Or, one who gives water will himself be satisfied.” The world’s narrative is hold on tight to what you have because you might not have enough. It is called a “scarcity” mentality.
If we are Christ to the world, we must embrace a giving lifestyle without expectation of return and watch how you gain even more. It is a principle of a generous, giving heart. Understand, we cannot outgive God.
Action: It does not make sense Lord, but a giving lifestyle is wisdom from above. Transform me to a lifestyle of generosity. I will embrace a heart which gives.
Yield: A yielded heart is a giving heart.
Engage: When I give, I am Christ to the world.
Relationship: God gave; therefore, I give.
Prayer: Father, may I become more like You. You are pleased with me when I give. Amen.
Memory Verse: Matthew 10:6-8
6 But go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with tzara’at, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
Music Video: Freely, Freely You Have Received
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”