Daily Devotional: December 3rd, 2019

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE?

To give or not to give? That is the question. No, that is not the question. That may be the question for many people in our world, but it should not be for the Christian. Giving should be a natural part of our lives. We should want to give because of God’s example of giving to us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

God has given everything for our enjoyment in this life and He has given us what it takes to make it to eternity. The greatest of all gifts is the sacrifice of His son Jesus on the cross.  Giving doesn’t get any better than that.

No matter how much we give back to God through the church or missions or by any others means, we will never out-give Him.  It’s been said that when we give we are most like God. This may very well be. Giving is one of the hardest things for most people to do, because we are taking away from ourselves. And self is very strong in all of us. Self often dominates and controls. So when it comes to giving in any form, let’s think in terms of becoming more like God and Christ who have given their all for us and to us.

When do you feel best about yourself in life?   When you do good? When you do something for someone else?   When you help another person in need? When you give to someone in need?   Yes, it’s true and it’s because God made us to care for one another. God wants us to bless one another and that’s what our giving will do. 

Someone once said, “It’s not what you do with the million if fortune should be your lot, but what are you doing at present with the dollar and quarter you got.”  To give or not to give?   The real question is: what are you doing with what God has already given you?”  We urge you to begin prayerfully considering what your giving to this Body of Christ will be in the next year.

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 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. 8 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: 6-8