THE GIVING NATURE OF A BELIEVER

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” 2 Corinthians 8:12

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A man who has arrived in Christ cannot respond to lust.

Willingness in giving should be your attitude as a believer. Until there is willingness in your heart, your gift can not be accepted by God. Men may accept your gift but if it is not out of a willing heart then there is no blessing attached to it. It is that willingness in your heart to give that turns it into kindness. The summary of the indwelling spirit of God in the life of the believer is kindness. Giving is an act of kindness of our spirit and nature as believers. As believers, we are useful or profitable in giving. Kindness and giving as believers is our nature. It is beyond a character. Love is our nature in Christ and love by nature is kind. The summary of love is giving. There is no true love without a sacrifice. The culture of the believer is giving. When a believer understands his nature, he swallows up every wrong attitude towards material things. A man who has arrived in Christ does not respond to lust. As believers, we have learning in Christ. And that learning has to do with the believers conduct and material blessing. Material blessings must be seen as a ‘means’. A believer must not be seen living for money or becoming bad custodians of money. If a man lust to be rich, then it should be at the expense of his service to God. When a believer becomes consecrated to service to God, then money becomes a means and not an end.

The trap of mammon (money) is found in one’s lack of faith. When a man lacks faith, he begins to trust in earthly riches. Love of money is as a result of lack of faith. When the believer trusts God as his source, then he lives above things. The resources of a believer are for the advancement of the kingdom – the spread of the gospel and to help others. As a believer, you give to honor God, as a proof that you have overcome greed and because it is more blessed than to receive. The first thing to give for the end-time harvest is one’s self. Until you give yourself, nothing comes out of you. By supporting the gospel, you lay up treasures in heaven (James 2:15-17).

INSTRUCTION: Learn to live above material things.

PRAYER: Lord, I dedicate myself and my resources for the advancement of your kingdom, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Success is not measured by what you have but by who you are.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13; EVENING: PROVERBS CHAPTER 29