July 27, 2023 CONTRARY TO NATURE
Acts 20:35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
We were born selfish with a nature to please ourselves first and foremost. But, when we accepted Christ as Savior and was born into His family, He gave us a new nature-a giving nature. We know from Romans that it is possible for us to revert back to living according to our old nature; to walk according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit. When we understand who we are, when we understand our new identity as sons and daughters of God, giving becomes a part of us, and as we give, we are in return blessed. Giving out of our new nature eliminates giving with reluctance or under compulsion; instead, we find joy in giving and look for opportunities to give. The amazing thing is that as we give, we receive; and the measure we use, it will be measured back to us. We often think that giving refers to the giving of money; however it is much broader than that; it includes time, extending kindness, giving thanks, and so much more. Primarily, we can have a spirit of giving that finds expression in all we do. Someone said that “We should give in order to get more so we can give more.” There is some truth in that, but I think we just give because that is who we are; we give with no expectations. Perhaps the greatest motivation for giving is that God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9;10-11 “Now He who supplies to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”
Blessings, Buddy
Acts 20:35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
We were born selfish with a nature to please ourselves first and foremost. But, when we accepted Christ as Savior and was born into His family, He gave us a new nature-a giving nature. We know from Romans that it is possible for us to revert back to living according to our old nature; to walk according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit. When we understand who we are, when we understand our new identity as sons and daughters of God, giving becomes a part of us, and as we give, we are in return blessed. Giving out of our new nature eliminates giving with reluctance or under compulsion; instead, we find joy in giving and look for opportunities to give. The amazing thing is that as we give, we receive; and the measure we use, it will be measured back to us. We often think that giving refers to the giving of money; however it is much broader than that; it includes time, extending kindness, giving thanks, and so much more. Primarily, we can have a spirit of giving that finds expression in all we do. Someone said that “We should give in order to get more so we can give more.” There is some truth in that, but I think we just give because that is who we are; we give with no expectations. Perhaps the greatest motivation for giving is that God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9;10-11 “Now He who supplies to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”
Blessings, Buddy
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