Every day is an opportunity.  2 Cor. 9.6-15     (Third in a series on generosity)

       You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

I ssaaiid, You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. When Jesus said, ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself,’ he is not talking about just feelings, something held only within our hearts.  No, love requires something of us.  It requires that we give of ourselves—precisely because we love.  Are you a generous person?  Do you give of your time, your talent, your treasure, and your touch?

God blesses us for doing what is right.  When we are generous, we will reap generously.  Take a look as Paul writes:

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

                  and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,

                  for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁸And 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. ⁹As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." ¹⁰Now 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.

                   ¹¹You 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.

 ¹²This 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. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

A person who regularly counts his blessings, a person with a grateful heart finds it easier to give to others.  A generous person quickly discovers that each new day provides new opportunities to impact the lives of others.  Every day we can find countless ways—great and small—to make someone’s life better.1   What an amazing way to look at a day!  ‘Would seem to flow from the heart of God who is generous beyond compare.  Like with his love toward us--How great is the love the Father has lavished on us.2   And while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!3 In God, we have redemption, forgiveness of sins, and grace “lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding”.4  God is generous with his works, his wonders, and his deeds.5  Truly, God’s love for us, his way with us is quite extravagant.

But let’s talk specifics for a moment, because people do ask specific questions.  How much (of your treasure) should you give to God’s work?  The Old Testament stipulated 10 percent.  Here in the New Testament, Paul gives us a new answer to ‘How much time, how much money?’  That which you have decided in your heart to give.  And with the knowledge that “God loves a cheerful giver”!  Take the Executive, (who we discussed two days ago)—he looked at all he had as gifts from God—gifts to receive, and then to share. He made it his business to give to other people—to lend a helping hand, to teach them from his experience, to pass on lessons to younger individuals, to honor folks, to lighten their loads, to enable them to reach their goals.

A prayer:  Oh Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills.  We know that every good and perfect gift comes from you, and we thank you for your goodness.  Teach us, O Lord, to think of others’ needs before our own. Teach us to hold all material things loosely in our hands, I pray.  Grow within us a desire to give, to love like crazy, and to find joy in serving others.  Amen.

Christine