“Our Daily Bread”…                                                                  http://odb.org/2012/07/05/my-buddy-william/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie …           http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

1 John 3:17… But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  (NKJV)

Every good thing we have comes from God…James 1:17… Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  (NKJV) 

As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of all that we possess… When we are blessed by the Lord with monetary wealth that far exceeds our necessities; we are called to share our good fortune with those who are in need… The wise Solomon, who wrote half of the Book of Proverbs, wrote this…Proverbs 11:24…There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.  (NKJV)

God promises that if we give of our time and our abundance of wealth to the needy, He will repay us back for what we have freely given… 2 Corinthians 9:8… And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)  …This abundance God will repay us back with, is not to be used selfishly; but as this scripture alludes, we are to use it for further good works…

This scripture comes right after the apostle Paul writes this, in…2 Corinthians 9:6… But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  (NKJV) 

Both Solomon in the O.T. and the apostle Paul in the N.T. are telling us the same thing… When Christians freely give from the heart, with no strings attached…God will be free to replenish and reward the righteous giver… But when a person begrudgingly gives of their time or their finances, or if they are giving for selfish motives…God knows their heart (1 Samuel 16:7), and will not be obligated to replenish their resources…

The apostle Paul gave great instruction about wealth, to his protégé Timothy, in…1 Timothy 6:17-19…  Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.  (NKJV)

And lastly, the apostle John wrote this about the wealthy who kept their riches, and falsely believe they needed nothing, in…

Revelation 3:17-18… Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, I pray everyone can understand from Your Word, that as Christian’s we are to freely give of the abundance You have given us… Help all of us Lord; to be cheerful givers of all of our resources to those who are less fortunate…  Help all of us Lord, to understand that all that we have is provided by You; and that You will bless those who freely give, expecting nothing in return…  I pray for this generous spirit to become part of all of our lives…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills