Be generous to the poor, needy and disadvantaged:
God's Word is very clear in stating that we should be generous and kind to those who are disadvantaged. There are many verses on this subject:
Proverbs 3:28 - "Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you." Proverbs 11:24-25 - "One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
God loves each one of us and takes our needs very personally. If we turn our back on the needy we are, in effect, turning our back on God.
Proverbs 14:31 - "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." Psalm 41:1 - "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble." Psalm 37:21b - "…the righteous give generously."
We should include systematic giving for the assistance of the needy in our financial planning. Lev. 23:22 - "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God."
Paul described his own actions in the area of generosity when he spoke to the elders from Ephesus. "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts. 20:35)
This may be a hard concept to accept but in God's economy we are not expected to do His will in our own strength. We will desire to be generous based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have a relationship with the Lord? Click Here to discover "The Life Changing Message Of Jesus."
Showing posts with label give. Show all posts
Showing posts with label give. Show all posts
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Biblical Financial Principle #8 - Give God Your First And Your Best
Give your first and your best back to God:
Many people have developed the habit of giving their leftovers to God. The Bible is very clear that God desires our first and our best. This is in keeping with the Matthew 6:33 concept of putting God first in everything we think, say and do.
Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Exodus 23:19a - Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
Deut. 26:10 - …and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O Lord, have given me." Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.
Lev. 22:21 - When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable.
When King David wanted to obtain some land for a location for the Temple the owner of the property offered to give it to him. David responded: "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Sam. 24:24) David wanted the best for God. He would not give God his leftovers. He would not give God something that did not require a sacrifice on his part. We need to follow David's example.
Many people have developed the habit of giving their leftovers to God. The Bible is very clear that God desires our first and our best. This is in keeping with the Matthew 6:33 concept of putting God first in everything we think, say and do.
Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Exodus 23:19a - Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.
Deut. 26:10 - …and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O Lord, have given me." Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.
Lev. 22:21 - When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable.
When King David wanted to obtain some land for a location for the Temple the owner of the property offered to give it to him. David responded: "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Sam. 24:24) David wanted the best for God. He would not give God his leftovers. He would not give God something that did not require a sacrifice on his part. We need to follow David's example.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Biblical Financial Principle #7 - Give Regularly on a Percentage Basis
Give back to God's work regularly and on a percentage basis:
Obedience to God is developed through practicing Godly habits. Many of us go to church, pray and read the Bible on a regular basis. In our financial planning we must make a regular habit of investing in God's Kingdom.
Paul taught that regular and proportional (percentage) giving was appropriate: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." (1 Cor. 16:2)
This agrees in principle with Old Testament teachings: "Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you." (Deut. 16:10)
Our motive for giving is God’s spiritual blessing in our lives, but our measure for giving is God’s material blessing. Paul made this clear when he wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter, “Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). Paul did not lay down any mathematical formula, because grace giving is not limited by a tithe (10 percent).
Grace giving is systematic, but it is not legalistic. It is not satisfied with only the minimum, whatever that minimum might be. God does not want to make us destitute through the process of giving to others. Her wants to bless us so that we will, in turn, bless others.
The first step in getting our financial house in order is getting our lives in order with God. Click here to discover "The Life Changing Message Of Jesus."
Obedience to God is developed through practicing Godly habits. Many of us go to church, pray and read the Bible on a regular basis. In our financial planning we must make a regular habit of investing in God's Kingdom.
Paul taught that regular and proportional (percentage) giving was appropriate: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." (1 Cor. 16:2)
This agrees in principle with Old Testament teachings: "Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you." (Deut. 16:10)
Our motive for giving is God’s spiritual blessing in our lives, but our measure for giving is God’s material blessing. Paul made this clear when he wrote to the Corinthians in his first letter, “Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). Paul did not lay down any mathematical formula, because grace giving is not limited by a tithe (10 percent).
Grace giving is systematic, but it is not legalistic. It is not satisfied with only the minimum, whatever that minimum might be. God does not want to make us destitute through the process of giving to others. Her wants to bless us so that we will, in turn, bless others.
The first step in getting our financial house in order is getting our lives in order with God. Click here to discover "The Life Changing Message Of Jesus."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Biblical Financial Principle #6b - Cheerfully and Willingly Invest in God’s Kingdom
Cheerfully and willingly invest time, talents and assets in God’s Kingdom - Part 2:
During Paul’s period of ministry there was a need to assist the believers in Jerusalem. He told the Romans: "For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." (Romans 15:26)
In this context of giving to help the poor among God’s people Paul wrote: "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." (2 Cor. 8:1-4)
Paul urged the Corinthians to be part of this opportunity but he did not “command” them. Paul stressed the correct attitude of willingness: "But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor. 8:7-12)
Paul mentioned a desire that he had for “equality” amongst the believers. Then he continued with the emphasis on being eager and enthusiastic: "For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action." (2 Cor. 9:2) In the Book of Acts we are told that: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." (Acts 4:32)
Paul told the Corinthians about the need for being generous and not giving grudgingly and then said: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.' 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. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." (2 Cor. 9:6-12)
In 2 Cor. Chapters 8 and 9 there is no appeal here to the tithe as a standard against which to measure our giving. Instead Paul pointed to other believers and to Jesus, whose love moved them to give, first themselves and then money.
Paul taught the Corinthians: "...we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (2 Cor. 4:14-15)
The Greek word for "grace" is "charis." Kenneth Wuest comments that the word comes to its highest and most exalted content of meaning in the New Testament. It refers to God’s offer of salvation with all that that implies ... offered without any expectation of return, but given out of the bounty and free heartedness of the giver (God) ... there is no room for good works on the part of the sinner as a means whereby he could earn his salvation, or after salvation, whereby he might retain that salvation ... good works naturally issue from and are required by grace.
In the case of material giving Paul exhorted these churches to give to the poor. He personally spear-headed a collection from predominantly Gentile Christians for the needs of mostly Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Yet when he specified the manner in which giving was to be done, he did not follow the Old Testament pattern of a fixed tithe. Rather, he told the Corinthians that “each one should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2), suggesting proportional giving but leaving the decision about degree or extent to individual determination. In a later letter he reminded them that “each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
The principles we can glean from this situation are that out of love for God and love for others we should willingly and enthusiastically and cheerfully express our generosity. Whatever we do for the Lord, the Church, other Christians and the world our motivation needs to be love and gratitude and joy. Our gifts and our service must proceed from a cheerful heart and we must never give out of compulsion.
During Paul’s period of ministry there was a need to assist the believers in Jerusalem. He told the Romans: "For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." (Romans 15:26)
In this context of giving to help the poor among God’s people Paul wrote: "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." (2 Cor. 8:1-4)
Paul urged the Corinthians to be part of this opportunity but he did not “command” them. Paul stressed the correct attitude of willingness: "But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor. 8:7-12)
Paul mentioned a desire that he had for “equality” amongst the believers. Then he continued with the emphasis on being eager and enthusiastic: "For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action." (2 Cor. 9:2) In the Book of Acts we are told that: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." (Acts 4:32)
Paul told the Corinthians about the need for being generous and not giving grudgingly and then said: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.' 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. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." (2 Cor. 9:6-12)
In 2 Cor. Chapters 8 and 9 there is no appeal here to the tithe as a standard against which to measure our giving. Instead Paul pointed to other believers and to Jesus, whose love moved them to give, first themselves and then money.
Paul taught the Corinthians: "...we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (2 Cor. 4:14-15)
The Greek word for "grace" is "charis." Kenneth Wuest comments that the word comes to its highest and most exalted content of meaning in the New Testament. It refers to God’s offer of salvation with all that that implies ... offered without any expectation of return, but given out of the bounty and free heartedness of the giver (God) ... there is no room for good works on the part of the sinner as a means whereby he could earn his salvation, or after salvation, whereby he might retain that salvation ... good works naturally issue from and are required by grace.
In the case of material giving Paul exhorted these churches to give to the poor. He personally spear-headed a collection from predominantly Gentile Christians for the needs of mostly Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Yet when he specified the manner in which giving was to be done, he did not follow the Old Testament pattern of a fixed tithe. Rather, he told the Corinthians that “each one should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2), suggesting proportional giving but leaving the decision about degree or extent to individual determination. In a later letter he reminded them that “each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
The principles we can glean from this situation are that out of love for God and love for others we should willingly and enthusiastically and cheerfully express our generosity. Whatever we do for the Lord, the Church, other Christians and the world our motivation needs to be love and gratitude and joy. Our gifts and our service must proceed from a cheerful heart and we must never give out of compulsion.
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About Me
- Bob Koehler
- Cypress, CA, United States
- I am a U.S Navy Veteran, a Bible student and I work in the maritime industry. I attempt to represent Jesus Christ accurately on this site. My blogs are not the "official" position of any church or ministry.