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- Apr 25, 2006
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Live to give
'God loves a person who gives cheerfully.' 2 Corinthians 9:7
Maybe it's learned round the canteen table at primary school - you offer a crisp to your fellow diners and before you know it, all you've got left is a bagful of salty crumbs. Lesson learned: with giving there is always a cost. Generosity is a class God wants us to take throughout life. The Bible is a textbook on kindness. Think about it: right from page one, God is giving.
At first there's zilch, then God gives life (life to the universe, life to nature, life to humans, life to animals). Adam is without a co-worker so God gives an eye-pleasing equal. Abraham is without a home so God gives a promised land. Moses is without purpose so God gives a burning bush. Israel's without a hope so God gives a shepherd with a slingshot.
The world's in need of saving so God gives His one and only Son. There's no shortage of examples of God role-modelling generosity. Clearly it's important that we learn to live open-handedly. So what does a person who gives cheerfully look like? He's the kind of guy who gives up his umbrella to stop the stranger from getting wet.
She's the kind of gal who carries the pensioner's shopping, even if it means going in the opposite direction for a bit. He's the sort of lad who gives away flowers to someone he's not trying to date. She's the anonymous lass posting an envelope of cash into her needy neighbour's letterbox. It's the Christian who's grasped that giving is always more rewarding than getting.
written by Bob Gass
'God loves a person who gives cheerfully.' 2 Corinthians 9:7
Maybe it's learned round the canteen table at primary school - you offer a crisp to your fellow diners and before you know it, all you've got left is a bagful of salty crumbs. Lesson learned: with giving there is always a cost. Generosity is a class God wants us to take throughout life. The Bible is a textbook on kindness. Think about it: right from page one, God is giving.
At first there's zilch, then God gives life (life to the universe, life to nature, life to humans, life to animals). Adam is without a co-worker so God gives an eye-pleasing equal. Abraham is without a home so God gives a promised land. Moses is without purpose so God gives a burning bush. Israel's without a hope so God gives a shepherd with a slingshot.
The world's in need of saving so God gives His one and only Son. There's no shortage of examples of God role-modelling generosity. Clearly it's important that we learn to live open-handedly. So what does a person who gives cheerfully look like? He's the kind of guy who gives up his umbrella to stop the stranger from getting wet.
She's the kind of gal who carries the pensioner's shopping, even if it means going in the opposite direction for a bit. He's the sort of lad who gives away flowers to someone he's not trying to date. She's the anonymous lass posting an envelope of cash into her needy neighbour's letterbox. It's the Christian who's grasped that giving is always more rewarding than getting.
written by Bob Gass
