Topic: Make Giving A Lifestyle
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 1-3; 2 Corinthians 9
Memory verse: “Every man according as he has purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)
Giving is a very important aspect of our life. It is through giving God brought the world back to Himself. It was a giving born out of love for the world. John 3:16 (KJV) says, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus Christ, out of love for man, gave up His position in heaven to make us rich like Him. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV) says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Giving is first a function of the heart and not what one possesses. “For God so loved the world,” describes the hearty nature of the love. “For your sakes He became poor that ye might be rich” points to Jesus’ deep love for the world. Today’s memory verse makes it clear, “Every man according as he has purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV). Cheerful givings come from the heart; it is not a function of the quantity but the state of the heart in the course of making the givings.
Jesus praised the woman who gave her widow’s might as giving more than others. Although He made more reference to the sacrifice made by the woman, the state of the heart was right in the first place else Jesus wouldn’t have pointed her out as example for us to follow. Giving is a proof of your trust in God that all you have is from Him and your giving is for Him. It is a proof that you are not serving money but God.
Giving towards the kingdom work is very beneficial to all as the good work is felt in the kingdom. Good works are works that advances the kingdom of God and ultimately glorify God, the Father. Learn to glorify God in your givings like Job did; he took care of all the needy and the widows. No wonder God protected him and restored him after the enemy’s attack on Him.
Learn to make giving a lifestyle as it is a way of storing up treasures in heaven and activates the work of God in our finances and furthers the advancement of the gospel to the whole world.
Prayer: Father, help me to key into this grace to give from the heart. Help me to make giving a lifestyle.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu