RECIPROCITY
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Galatians 6:7-8 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
The principle of sowing and reaping is very Biblical. It has several applications when it comes to how we handle money. First, you reap after you sow. I have had people through the years tell me, “I’ll start giving when my ship comes in.” Their ship will never come in because they have not put a ship out. You can’t get a harvest if you have never planted a seed. You must give before the harvest comes in Secondly, you reap what you sow. If you give out of a desire to get, that is giving motivated by greed. Greed is sin. You can give and be giving with a sinful heart. Your gift then is a gift motivated by sin, so you are opening yourself up to receive back sin in your life. If you give with a desire to bless others and enrich the kingdom of God, your motive is correct. You are giving to bless so you will be blessed. I believe God is not as interested in the amount you give as He is in the reason you give. What is your motivation? I bring the tithe (the first 10% of my income) to God as His out of obedience to the Word of God. Beyond the tithe I give another certain percent to advance the kingdom of God around the world. This is given because I sense a responsibility to use the time, talent, and treasure God has given to me to bless others and advance God’s kingdom. Cindy and I have never sat down and thought, “If we give this much money God will give us this much back.” That would be giving motivated by greed.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Prayer: Holy Spirit please help me to be a generous person for the right reason. Direct me on how to use my time, talent, and treasure to advance Your kingdom.
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