GOD’S GENEROSITY
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Let’s continue to look at 2 Corinthians 9 by adding another verse to our study. We learned yesterday the importance of giving the time, talent, and treasure God has entrusted to us as seed to advance His kingdom. Today we’ll learn God’s response to our cheerful giving. When we give with a cheerful heart there is a promise — “God will generously provide all you need.” When I use time, talent, and treasure as seed to advance the kingdom of God then God will give back to me everything I need—and He does it generously. God’s generosity includes not just meeting my needs but giving me abundance so that I can “share with others.” In other words, when we give with a cheerful heart to advance the kingdom of God and bless others, God will bless us so that we can be a blessing. God does not bless us simply so that we can have larger house, newer car, or better clothes—that is part of the blessing of God but not the end results. The primary reason for God blessing us is so that we can be a blessing to others. God wants His children to be conduits of His resources. He does not mind us enjoying the blessings, but He does not want us to hoard the blessings. We are blessed to be a blessing. I believe when God sees us blessing others with our time, talent, and treasure He will release more time, talent, and treasure into our lives. He will realize that we can become a resource for advancing the kingdom. Why would God want to give you more time, talent, or treasure if you are not handling what you already have properly? If you aren’t advancing His kingdom with what you presently have why would God give you more? It is like the man who use to tell me when his ship came in, he was going to pay off the note on the church building. One day when he told me that I responded by saying, “Why don’t you just start tithing off what you already have and let God take it from there?” Do what you can with what you have and then you get to see God increase what you have so you can do more.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Prayer: Holy Spirit please help me to be faithful with what You have entrusted into my life. Help me today to use the time, talent, and treasure You have given me to advance Your kingdom in my world.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”