GIVING AND RECEIVING

Luke 6:38
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.

When you give something, how generous are you? Is the cup full, ½ full, less than ½? What if that same cup is used to give back to you – with the same amount that you gave? Would you want more?

We need to treat others the way that we would like to be treated. To give an amount of time, energy, resources that we would want to receive. We can’t be stingy with others and then expect to be treated with generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 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.

Are you stingy? With your time, abilities, love? If you are stingy with your money, chances are you will be stingy in other areas of your life. Being stingy is a matter of the heart. We can be selfish, not willing to share what we have. A lot of things can create that kind of attitude within us. As a child, we are very selfish right from birth. Everything is “mine”! Just watch a couple of toddlers for a while and you will see a selfish nature. It comes naturally – no training needed! But we can be taught to share. If that training wasn’t part of your childhood and you grew up to be a selfish adult, there is hope. Decide today that you want to make changes. Go to God and ask for His help. He will give you opportunities to share. It will take some effort in the beginning – we are going against our nature. Once we learn how to share and to share abundantly, we will be amazed at how satisfying our life has become.

So, how generous are you? If you got back only the amount that you have given, would you be satisfied? How we treat people reflects what is in our heart. If we love our neighbor, we will want to do them good. It is hard to be stingy with someone you love. So, it is not a question of how big your bank account is, but how big is your heart?

Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

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.

“Scatters” means to freely give. When we freely give, we end up with more. When we are stingy and withhold it all, we end up with less. Do you ignore the needs of others? Do you realize that you are missing out on blessings from God?

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor and that God will reward those who bless the poor. Check your heart. What can you do today to bless the poor?

Proverbs 22:9
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.