Bible League: Living His Word Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD,and he will repay him for his deed. The Bible has a lot to say about being generous. One of its main teachings on the subject is that the generous will be blessed for their generosity. This is especially true, as our verse for today points out, when the object of our generosity is the poor. When we give to the poor the Lord actually borrows the money from us with a promise to repay. In other words, the Lord personally guarantees that we won't lose anything by being generous. The Lord not only makes sure we won't lose anything, He also sees to it that we will reap a bountiful harvest: "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (II Corinthians 9:6). You don't have to be rich, however, in order to be generous and reap a bountiful harvest: "Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" (Luke 21:1-4). It's not how much you give that impresses the Lord, but the percentage. Failure to give generously when called upon does not actually preserve wealth: "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and the one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:24-25). Further, our giving reaps a harvest in the next life as well as this life: "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life" (I Timothy 6:17-19). Finally, coupling our generosity with a cheerful attitude about it pleases the Lord: "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (II Corinthians 9:7). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingZechariah 10, 11, 12 Zechariah 10 -- God Will Bless Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 11 -- The Two Shepherds: Feed the flock of slaughter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Zechariah 12 -- Jerusalem a Burdensome Stone to Her Adversaries: They will mourn the one they have pierced NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 20 Revelation 20 -- Satan Bound for a Thousand Years; The Judgment NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.Insight Here, John was attacking the second claim of the false teachers: that people had no natural tendency toward sin, that they “[had] no sin,'' and that they were then incapable of sinning. This idea is at best self-deception and at worst a bald-faced lie. The false teachers refused to take sin seriously. They wanted to be considered Christians, but they saw no need to confess and repent. The death of Christ did not mean much to them because they didn't think they needed it. Instead of repenting and being purified by Christ's blood, they were encouraging sin among believers. Challenge In this life we are always capable of sinning, so we should never let down our guard. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Samuel 7:12 Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, "hitherto the Lord hath helped!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto." But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for-- He who hath helped thee hitherto Will help thee all thy journey through. When read in heaven's light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye! Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; Job 22:21 "Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you. John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Colossians 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Ephesians 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. • I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, • and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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