Thought for Tuesday, February 21 2012

February 21, 2012

Blessed Is He/She, Who Gives and Gives and Gives

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew  5:38-45

 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?   If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:7-11

Quote of the Day

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little  - do what you can.” – Sidney Smith

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

Almost everyone, somewhere along the way has heard it said, ‘It is more blessed to give – than it is to receive:’ and when it comes to God’s economy that is most certainly true.

When you think about it, God has given us much more than He could ever hope to receive in return from us.  First He gave us life itself and then He gave His son to afford us the opportunity to receive forgiveness and eternal life through the blood of Jesus.

That doesn’t even take into account all the blessings He bestows on us each day.

So, since it is obvious as Christians we receive more from God than we could ever hope to give, doesn’t it make sense that we should give as much as we possibly can?

And, please understand there is much more to this concept of giving than just putting money in an offering plate.  That is only a small part of what we have to offer and give for God.  There is the issue of our talents, our energies, our time and our daily living.  Every deed we do that is an act of love and ministry is a means and way of giving back to God.  Feeding a person who is hungry is giving to God.  Volunteering to sort clothes at the clothes closet is giving to God.  Helping out in Children’s church or chaperoning a Youth Event is giving back to God.  And look at all the benefactors of our generosity when we give unselfishly.

The more you give of yourself in service to God the more blessed you will be.

And with God nothing done and no amount given ever goes unnoticed.  Remember the story of the Widow’s Mite.  She gave all she had to give and God saw her little as greater than those who only gave a small portion of what was available to them.

I’ve often heard it said, ‘You can’t out-give God;’ and the longer I live and the more God enables me to let go and give the more I realize how true this saying is.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.” – Luke 6:38

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are gentle, giving, forgiving, gracious and kind and I am so blessed as your child.  Help me to give and give and give, knowing when I give all of me, there is still more of you to refill and replace what I have given away.

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more but those giving more.”

-          H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Word of God speak, pour down like rain…”

- from ‘Word of God Speak’ by Mercy Me