Giving is a Major Gateway to Blessings

Giving:The Major Gateway

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:7–8, NIV) 

The Christian life is a giving life. This is the direct opposite of what the world dictates to us in order to be happy. Most of the messages of the world are directed at self-consuming activities saying you need to have certain possessions and experiences in order to be fulfilled. These messages tend to make us “getters” instead of “givers.”

When we speak of giving, we are not talking about just money. Remember, we have the 3 Ts: Time, Talent, and Treasure. Time and talent are just as important as any treasure we might have. God loving the cheerful giver is a statement of God’s action. By giving, believers place themselves in the position where God, subject to his sovereignty, can bless abundantly in ways beyond how we could ever think or imagine. Giving is the major gateway for God to work in the life of the believer.

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” (John 6:27, ESV) 

By giving our time, talent, and treasure, we are converting the perishable into the imperishable eternal values of God that will echo into eternity. Instead of just “getting” in this world, we must focus more on “giving” or “investing” in those endeavors that will echo into eternity.

Today, ask yourself: 

Am I taking the necessary steps in my life to become a giver instead of just being a getter?

God bless you.

Shalom 

Source: http://kingdomnomics.com/giving-the-major-gateway/#.VZuojXlFCP8

How to Serve by Giving

Today, we will read about the fact that when we give, we perform a service to human being and God. Enjoy the post.

When You Give, You Are Performing a Service was written by Rick Warren.

The scripture text for our topic will be found in 2 Corinthians 9:11  - "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion … your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God". 

What an amazing verse! God makes you rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion, which will result in thanksgiving to God.

God does not bless you to be greedy; he blesses you so you can be generous. God does not give you things so you can pile them up. When you let go of what is in your hand, it is now empty to receive greater blessings from God. 

God's giving to you is based on your attitude. That is why it is so important to live with an attitude of gratitude and to be content with what you have. The Bible says, “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 Corinthians 9:12 NIV). 

When you give, you perform a service. To serve and to give is the same thing. It is two actions of love. You cannot love without serving and giving. Your service leads to expressions of thanksgiving to God and to contentment. 

Prayer Points: 

• Take a moment to pray and express your gratitude to God.
• Ask him to show you the way to contentment.
• Then, ask him to bless you so you can be a blessing to others. 

You can also read more on Christian giving and service by ordering this book entitled “the Grace of Giving”, click here.

Have a blessed day. 

How Generous Are You?

“A generous man will prosper and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) 

Get more materials on Faith and religion here. 

When you share with others, God shares with you.

The world says, “Get everything you can and you will be financially secure.” The Bible says share with others in need and you will sow what you reap: “Give and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:38 NIV) 

God says that when you give to somebody else, you are not throwing it away. It is an investment in the lives of others. God says the one who gives will gain even more: “He who is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord and He will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17 NIV) 

When you see people in need and you give to them, God looks at this as if it were a loan to Him. He says, “I will reward back.” 

God is always going to take care of you and your needs. Do you believe that is true? Generosity is a matter of faith. Will you take God at his Word?

Try and give today and see what God will do in your life. 
God bless you. 

Shalom.

How to be Financially Fit

Financial Fitness: Generosity Reaps Generosity  

The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. Proverbs 11:24 (Msg) 

If I sow generosity, it is going to come back to me, and I'm going to reap generosity. 

Every farmer knows this. A farmer has sacks of seed in his barn and he looks at his empty field. He doesn't complain, "There is no crop! I wish there was a crop!" He just goes out and starts planting seed. When you have a need, plant a seed.  

It seems illogical that when I have a need, I should give.

Why did God set it up this way? Because God is a giver. He is the most generous giver in the universe, and God wants you to learn to be like him. He wants to build character in you. 

The Bible says, “Honour the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce” (Proverbs 3:9 NLT). This is the principle of tithing. It's the principle that says every time I make $100 -- the first $10 goes back to God. 

Tithing is an act of worship. We are giving to God. We're saying, "All of it came from you anyway." God says, "Put me first in your life and watch what I do." You may think you can't afford to tithe, but the reality is, you cannot afford not to tithe.

This daily devotional was written by Rick Warren.

You can get more Christian and Religious ebooks and materials here. 

How to expect God to respond when we give

When You Give, Expect God to Respond

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV) 

If you’re saying, “God, I’m looking to you as the only source of my supply, and when I have a need, I’m going to plant a seed,” then you can expect God to send a harvest. 

God will provide the harvest from the seed you planted, not because you’ve worked yourself into frenzy or psyched yourself up, but simply because of who God is. He is faithful, and he can be depended on. He will provide for your needs; he will fulfil his promises. 

Now understand this: God is no vending machine. He is not a genie jumping to your every command, and he is not your servant. But he is a loving father, who constantly proves the principles he established through his Word. He shows us people throughout the Bible who believe God and say, “I’m going to give when I don’t have it, whether it is money, time, energy, ideas, or empathy.” 

The Bible says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV) and “If your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?” (Luke 11:11 NLT) 

No way! God loves his children, and God is waiting to do in your life what you cannot imagine.

Today's devotional is written by Rick Warren, the best-selling author of the "Purpose-Driven Life".

You can also get access to other ebooks and materials on religion and faith here.