GODLY GIVING AND RECEPTION

GODLY GIVING AND RECEPTION

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Luke 6:38; 21:1-4 [Jesus taught] Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again. … And looking up, [Jesus] saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He also saw a certain poor widow casting two lepta in there. And He said, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all of them. For all these have cast in to the offerings of God from their abundance, but out of her poverty she has cast in all the living she had.

  I know of an older couple that minister to others. They are not officially ordained or incorporated. They are not poor. They are not rich. Living without vices and following God’s financial guidelines in Scripture, they have been blessed monetarily. Thus far in their Christian service they have not solicited others for money, nor have they had to. This is not a matter of pride on their part, it just has never been necessary to request outside funding.

  However, from time to time brothers and sisters in Christ felt directed by God’s Holy Spirit to give them funds and material support. Postage, office supplies, study materials, books to read and pass on, assistance in vehicle purchase, transportation, home maintenance, and cash. The latter sometimes in sizable amounts.

  One time they prayed and decided they should give the unplanned amount of $500 to worthy effective ministry running a matching fund campaign secretly underwritten by a wealthy Christian.

  Little did they know that simultaneously God’s Holy Spirit was speaking to hearts of dear Christian friends, totally unaware of the older couple’s check just mailed, to lovingly give a personal gift of $500 “To be used for ministry expenses or even for yourselves.”

  Reciprocation should never be the reason to give. But truly, what can we give our Master that He needs? (The money you drop in the collection plate supports God, you think?!) When we give, it fills our need. Such freedom in gift giving is joyous and fills with thanksgiving; the sense of presence in purpose with hope to do more.

EBB4