Giving Thanks Giving Thanks


As a first year bible college student we read through the bible as a requirement of the course, and since that time, I have continued to read through the bible that way, but sometimes as I read something I think "I am sure that wasn't in there before!" 

At some moments as we read the Word, there are portions that have been there all along, but the Holy Spirit brings to our attention when he wants to show us something, and it never hit us before...

Today was like that. As I was reading, I was struck with the verse in 2 Corinthians 9:11 (The Passion Translation - TPT)"You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, for when we take your gifts to those in need, it causes many to give thanks to God."

 The bible speaks about being a cheerful giver, and I long ago realized that God cannot be out-given and so I give from a thankful heart because of what he has done for me!  I give because I know I can trust God with my finances and stuff, just as much as I do with my salvation. I give because it's good!

These are not the only reasons to give of course and as I read this verse though, I was really impacted by the fact that when we give IT CAUSES MANY TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD!

Let's say you have a need.  I come along and I give you what you need.  Hopefully you are thankful to God for his provision... but then, knowing human nature, I suspect you might start to tell other people.  "Guess what God did for me" and then they start to give thanks to God too.  They meet someone who has a need and they say "My friend had a similar situation and this is what happened..."

One person's giving has cause many to give thanks AND it has inspired others to trust God which will lead to more gratitude!   Isn't it simple.  As Christians, we need to be givers.  If you haven't yet learned to trust God in this area, I encourage you to look at the Word and see what God says about it.

In a nutshell, God's accounting is different to ours.  When we give, it is not taken away because God gives back and multiplies.  Not only that, but if you have a willing heart, he will give you seed to sow! (See 2 Cor 9:10).  In God's economy, it's not the amount that matters, but it is the heart with which it is given.  Start with what you have. God will bless it, multiply it, give it back and you can repeat!

In all this, you get blessed - Proverbs 11:25 (TPT) Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor. (The King James Version says that he who waters will also be watered), others get blessed, but most importantly, God gets glory and thanks!

You may look at what's in your hand and think it's not enough to give, but think of the woman at the temple offering.  She dropped in a couple of pennies, but it was all that she had.  Jesus commended her, saying she had put in more than all the wealthy folk who dropped in what they could spare from their riches (Mark 12).

Giving is good and you'll never find away to out-give God.  He initiated giving... For God so loved us that HE GAVE...

Have a great weekend!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teabags and Popcorn!

Image
So, I was eating popcorn yesterday and drinking a fruit tea and I started wondering what makes a popcorn pop! (As you do). With a little help from Google, I found out that inside the kernel, the hard shell, there is a little bit of moisture and when it heats up inside, it turns to steam and as you keep heating it up, the pressure from the steam builds and builds until it cracks open the hard exterior and makes a yummy snack. And then I thought about my teabag (I do promise there will be a spiritual application to this, not just information on my food and drink habits).  The label had come off the teabag, so I didn't know exactly what flavour it was, until I poured on the boiling water and tasted it! As promised... the spiritual bit!  We are like teabags and popcorn!  This is a deep spiritual truth!  Really it is!  Read on and I'll explain why! Firstly we are like popcorn because when heated up, whatever we stir up inside us will burst out.  We're also like teabags too.  We
Read more

Looking back

Image
This week I was listening to a message and I was reading the verse in Luke 17:32 which simply says " Remember Lot's wife ."   This is a really interesting statement. When Jesus tells us to consider something or remember something we should pay attention. So what do we know about Lot's wife?  Not a lot really.  But what we do know is that an angel of the Lord took her by the hand to lead her out of the city before God destroyed it.  She was told to run for her life and not look back.  According to Genesis 19, she ran but she turned and look back and as a result, turned to a pillar of salt.  This short verse really spoke to me for a number of reasons.    The Apostle Paul tells us " I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. "  (Phil 3:13 TPT) Since 2020, it's like we have a new category in history BC now stands for BEFORE COVID! People a
Read more

See for yourself!

Image
The New Year is often a point in time where we consider new beginnings. We make new year's resolutions and wipe the slate clean and start over, and while goal-setting and change isn't bad, in spiritual terms, will-power alone isn't enough to effect change.   Real and lasting change begins on the inside of us. It begins with seeing on the inside with the eyes of faith before we ever see something with our natural eyes on the outside.  What do I mean by that?  Well, think about Joseph.   Joseph had a dream that he would one day see his family bowing before him.  He had to walk through rejection from his family, slavery, false accusations and prison before he saw that with his physical eyes!  He had a dream and I believe he held on to that dream every single day. If Joseph had seen himself to be helpless, forsaken and lost he would have had the opportunity to fall into despair and do nothing.  The chances are, that would have kept him a slave or a prisoner until he died.  What
Read more