Freely Give

FREELY GIVE

"Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8b

I have made an observation in my lifetime: stingy people tend to be miserable people. Giving people tend to be happy, fulfilled people. I love the observation of Dr. Henry Blackaby from his daily devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD - THE DEVOTIONAL: "There is no room for misers in God's Kingdom. When we begin to struggle in giving what we have to others, we have forgotten where we received our possessions. Every good thing we have ever received has come from God (James 1:17) All that we have acquired has been dependent upon His grace (1 Corinthians 4:7). Job accurately summarized our condition: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' (Job 1:21)

We easily assume a sense of ownership of our possessions, as if they were things earned ourselves, thereby giving us a right to then. Jesus reminds is to be prepared to give our possessions as freely and joyfully as we received them. It should be a pleasure for us to give what we have to others (2 Corinthians 9:7) We ought to be a conduit through whom the Lord can pour His blessings, knowing we will disperse them to everyone around us. Sometimes we claim we are trying to be good stewards of our resources when actually we are being selfish.

If you struggle to give freely to others, you have become more attached to the GIFT than to the GIVER. The account of the rich young ruler shows the tragedy of becoming too attached to worldly treasures (Luke 8:18-24). Meditate on all that your Lord has given you (John 3:16).
Resolve to express your gratitude to Him through giving."

Good words for today. Are you a stingy person or one who gives freely.
Tomorrow I will share a story of an unusual gift to the Colony that was a huge blessing to 40 men.

Great quote: It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. Alas, it is worse than that. When they stop believing in God, they believe in anything. Gilbert Keith G. K.
Chesterton