October 28, 2018 KINGDOM LIVING part 10
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour out into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
These two verses highlight a key difference in how the kingdom of God works and how the kingdom of this world works. The prevailing belief of the world system is that one focuses on, and pursues whatever it is he wants. To the world, it is plain common sense that you have by getting. The world, those who do not known God, rush about, spending time and money in the never-ending pursuit of acquiring what they want. There is a basic thought of man that says that if he gets a certain thing or gets to a certain place in life, he will be happy. Man has an innate awareness that he needs something, that he is incomplete, thus he pursues what he believes will fill that void. This quest of man to find fulfillment can be satisfied only by having a living relationship with God that comes through knowing the fullness that Jesus brings as we walk in His ways. It is a mystery, but when one focuses on giving, he receives. The very nature of God is that of being a giver; God so loved that He gave. As believers walk in their new identity in the Lord, in their new nature, they also become givers; if a believer is not a giver, then he or she has not come to know the love of God that is available to them. The giving that God takes pleasure in is a by-product of love. Having a generous and giving spirit is an attribute or characteristic of one that is walking with the Lord. Giving is not limited to giving money, it is much broader. For the believer, because acts of giving originate in the heart, all that we say and do take on the flavor of giving and blessing. There are limitless ways in which a giving heart can be expressed; such as, by taking the time to bless someone, by listening, by helping with a need, by praying for someone, by speaking a word of encouragement, by giving money to meet a need, and etc. etc. Even though it may sound illogical to say that we receive when we give, that’s the way it is in God’s kingdom. Some may misuse the intent of this verse by giving for the purpose of getting instead out of the desire to bless; God deals with us on the basis of our hearts and He knows the deepest motives of our hearts. To say again, God is about us being transformed to the point that we know and experience His love, and out of His love filling our hearts, we have a desire to give and to bless with no thought as to what we may receive in return. Once one discovers that he or she can take on the nature of a giver, just as God is a giver, and begins to put giving into action, they will be blessed beyond measure. When we discover and operate in the God kind of giving, we will find inexpressible joy as we give. Let us not give with the desire to be noticed or with the belief that if we give, we will earn God’s approval; let us give out of a new and pure heart-God will be well pleased and we will be blessed in the process.
Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10 “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour out into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
These two verses highlight a key difference in how the kingdom of God works and how the kingdom of this world works. The prevailing belief of the world system is that one focuses on, and pursues whatever it is he wants. To the world, it is plain common sense that you have by getting. The world, those who do not known God, rush about, spending time and money in the never-ending pursuit of acquiring what they want. There is a basic thought of man that says that if he gets a certain thing or gets to a certain place in life, he will be happy. Man has an innate awareness that he needs something, that he is incomplete, thus he pursues what he believes will fill that void. This quest of man to find fulfillment can be satisfied only by having a living relationship with God that comes through knowing the fullness that Jesus brings as we walk in His ways. It is a mystery, but when one focuses on giving, he receives. The very nature of God is that of being a giver; God so loved that He gave. As believers walk in their new identity in the Lord, in their new nature, they also become givers; if a believer is not a giver, then he or she has not come to know the love of God that is available to them. The giving that God takes pleasure in is a by-product of love. Having a generous and giving spirit is an attribute or characteristic of one that is walking with the Lord. Giving is not limited to giving money, it is much broader. For the believer, because acts of giving originate in the heart, all that we say and do take on the flavor of giving and blessing. There are limitless ways in which a giving heart can be expressed; such as, by taking the time to bless someone, by listening, by helping with a need, by praying for someone, by speaking a word of encouragement, by giving money to meet a need, and etc. etc. Even though it may sound illogical to say that we receive when we give, that’s the way it is in God’s kingdom. Some may misuse the intent of this verse by giving for the purpose of getting instead out of the desire to bless; God deals with us on the basis of our hearts and He knows the deepest motives of our hearts. To say again, God is about us being transformed to the point that we know and experience His love, and out of His love filling our hearts, we have a desire to give and to bless with no thought as to what we may receive in return. Once one discovers that he or she can take on the nature of a giver, just as God is a giver, and begins to put giving into action, they will be blessed beyond measure. When we discover and operate in the God kind of giving, we will find inexpressible joy as we give. Let us not give with the desire to be noticed or with the belief that if we give, we will earn God’s approval; let us give out of a new and pure heart-God will be well pleased and we will be blessed in the process.
Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
2 Corinthians 9:10 “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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