Sunday, June 25, 2023
BE GENEROUS (III)
Reading: Proverbs 11:24-28
24
NIV:One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25
NIV:A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26
NIV:People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27
NIV:Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28
NIV:Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Memorise: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Acts 20:35
EXPOSITION
In continuation of yesterday's dose of the Living Water, your giving implies your blessedness: Your giving habit reveals your capacity for blessing. To receive back what you have given in good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, your giving must commensurate. Abraham tithed and did not keep Isaac, his laughter, God, and as a result, he won God's covenant of abundant blessing. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). It is God's desire to bless some people but they lack the capacity to receive it. God will not give you the blessing that only you can eat. He is blessing you to cater for the needs of others, because He is not stingy like many of us, but Munificent/Benevolent. But if He noticed that you will be selfish, stingy and ungrateful with His blessings, He might decide to withhold it from you. Read Matthew 25:28,29.
It is imperative to cooperate with God for the distribution of His blessings. The members of the first church demonstrated their generosity as they were not amassing possessions but sold them and submit the proceeds at the feet of the apostles for onward distribution among themselves (Acts 2:45). What then is the problem of the rich folks in our churches today who are neither responsible to God nor useful for the church with their possessions? Many self-acclaimed rich people are those who have succeeded in looting the national treasury and piled up such stolen money in some foreign accounts and overhead and underground septic tanks. What an evil generation is this! We must realise that God can never favour anyone who hoards goods, likewise people will curse such. The Bible says, There is one who scatters, yet increases more, And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty (Prov. 11:24).
Suggested Hymn for Today: CAC GHB 656
1. There shall be showers of blessing,"
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above
Chorus
Showers of blessing
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling
But for the showers we plead.
2. "There shall be showers of blessing:"
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys
Sound of abundance of rain.
3. "There shall be showers of blessinig."
Sent them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come, and now honour Thy word.
4. "There shall be showers of blessing:"
Oh that today they might fall,
Now as to God we're confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call.
Amen.
Prayer Points
1. Lord, help me to rework my giving habit so that my capacity for blessings might increase.
2. I say no to poverty, barrenness, and fruitlessness in Jesus' name, the blessings of God come upon my life powerfully in Jesus' name.
3. The spirit of poverty ravaging the fold of Christ, through the stinginess and lack of generous giving ability of the people, we expunge you by fire.
*Extra Reading for Today: Psalms 68:5-69:4*
