Nothing reveals the true character of a person than the matter of giving. For it is the window to our souls, revealing the true character of our hearts! Our God is the consummate giver, giving to mankind the ultimate gift, His Son, Jesus Christ. Like our heavenly Father, we too are to be givers! But giving does not come naturally. SO, how are we to give? Paul, in 2 Corinthians 9 lays down six principles to govern our giving. Our giving is to be PRIVATE, PLANNED, PROPORTIONAL to our income and to the need, PAINLESS, PRESSURE FREE, and PLEASURABLE! When we give in such way, we can expect God to give to us! He will generous in His giving back to us, for He gives 'a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.' But God does not necessarily pay in KIND, that is, in cash for blessings come in other forms. And God does not necessarily pay in TIME, that is, within our lifetime! For we can lay up treasures in heaven by investing in people and in God's work. God also repays us proportionately as we give. We reap in proportion to what we have sown. One thing for sure; You can never out-give God! |
