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- Apr 25, 2006
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Splash the cash
'... Freely you have received, freely give.' Matthew 10:8
If you're the type of person who opens a birthday card and shakes the envelope for cash before you've even read the greeting, today's reading is for you. Jesus said, '... giving not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity' (Luke 6:38 TM). Giving takes the spotlight off us. We can get so wrapped up needing that new album, those new boots, this new top, that we become 'me, me, me' bores.
When we give, our eyes are taken off ourselves and shifted towards others and their needs. Like the price of that download could feed a starving family for a week. The money for those new boots could help educate a child in poverty. That new top could equate to clean water in Africa (seriously, check out charities like Compassion or Tearfund).
Here's the win-win situation, The Bible promises that if we take care of others, God takes care of us: 'Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing' (Proverbs 28:27 NLT). But how much should I give? 'You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully" (2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT). Did you get that, 'cheerfully'? There shouldn't be any dust blown off our wallets; we should have grins the size of Christmas as we dream up creative ways of splashing the cash for the sake of the kingdom.
written by Bob Gass
'... Freely you have received, freely give.' Matthew 10:8
If you're the type of person who opens a birthday card and shakes the envelope for cash before you've even read the greeting, today's reading is for you. Jesus said, '... giving not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity' (Luke 6:38 TM). Giving takes the spotlight off us. We can get so wrapped up needing that new album, those new boots, this new top, that we become 'me, me, me' bores.
When we give, our eyes are taken off ourselves and shifted towards others and their needs. Like the price of that download could feed a starving family for a week. The money for those new boots could help educate a child in poverty. That new top could equate to clean water in Africa (seriously, check out charities like Compassion or Tearfund).
Here's the win-win situation, The Bible promises that if we take care of others, God takes care of us: 'Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing' (Proverbs 28:27 NLT). But how much should I give? 'You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully" (2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT). Did you get that, 'cheerfully'? There shouldn't be any dust blown off our wallets; we should have grins the size of Christmas as we dream up creative ways of splashing the cash for the sake of the kingdom.
written by Bob Gass
