Generosity: Trusting God and blessing others
Dilys Jones, said in her talk a few weeks ago that Trust and Belief are what underpins everything else we talked about in our "Going Deeper" series. With that in mind, I'd like to look at the area of generosity. If we truly believe that God will provide for us, then we are free to be generous with even our "two mites". Even in the midst of our own need, we are free to bless others, because we trust that where God leads, He will provide.
At first, this sounds ridiculously unwise. And I struggle with it myself, how much to give and when - and really trusting that God will take care of me. But the truth is, I am still alive. I still have a roof over my head and have had brilliant opportunities that I couldn't have even hoped for. Despite all the financial hardships I've experienced over the course of my life, I really have nothing to complain about. And I have been tremendously blessed by people who have chosen to give me the finances and opportunities that I have had.
I have talked with others in the past few weeks who have been blown away with how much God has blessed them when they were struggling, even when they only hoped for the bare minimum, and were given so much more. How wonderful it would be to be part of God's work in blessing people. Even writing this, I am a little scared that saying this might disrupt the little bit of what God is doing in my heart - that he might test me even more, and push me even further out of my comfort zone. But, I trust Him. He is good.
The following are a few verses that God has shown me even this month about giving, and I hope they challenge you in the way you think about how much you can give and whether you trust that God is able to do even more than you can imagine to take care of you. Not to guilt you into giving or to be irresponsible, but to be excited about partnering with God regardless of your circumstances.
Proverbs 30:8-9
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the LORD?"
Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God.
Luke 6:36-38
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
If you believe God will provide for you, you are free to provide for others who need it. I'm not saying we should give in order to get (that is not really giving), I want to say that there is a blessing for doing what God wants with the money He has given you, and we are called to be good stewards of what we have been blessed with.
Alex Hanes