The Power of Giving—Two2Grow, Tuesday, September 1
The Power of Giving—Two2Grow, Tuesday, September 1
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9–10 NIV
Giving to the Lord is a practice we have to learn, as it doesn’t come naturally to most of us, as our fallen nature tends to want to hold fast to the money and possessions we have. Yet giving our tithes (ten percent of our income) and offerings to the Lord is a very important part of our walk with God.
Today’s text shows us two key truths about the power of giving:
First, our giving shows who is really our God, that is, who we put our ultimate trust and love in. When we give, we show that Mammon doesn’t hold power over us, but that our hearts are set on the Lord. In that way, we honor God for who God is—the source and sustainer of our life.
Secondly, our giving positions us into the life of God. God’s resources are limitless, and He is ready to meet our every need. When we give, we imitate God, who is the ultimate Giver, and by doing so we open ourselves for the overflowing and abundant life of the Holy Spirit where there is no lack.
The devil and our selfish nature lie to us and say that when we give, we lose. The biblical truth is, as we just have seen, the exact opposite. By giving, we receive. That is how the kingdom of God works. This is why we give, even when it seems foolish to the fallen world to do so.
Father, thank You for giving me life and everything else. I want to be a giver like You. Help me to honor You with my possessions and to trust You to meet all my needs this month. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
Giving to the Lord is a practice we have to learn, as it doesn’t come naturally to most of us, as our fallen nature tends to want to hold fast to the money and possessions we have. Yet giving our tithes (ten percent of our income) and offerings to the Lord is a very important part of our walk with God.
Today’s text shows us two key truths about the power of giving:
First, our giving shows who is really our God, that is, who we put our ultimate trust and love in. When we give, we show that Mammon doesn’t hold power over us, but that our hearts are set on the Lord. In that way, we honor God for who God is—the source and sustainer of our life.
Secondly, our giving positions us into the life of God. God’s resources are limitless, and He is ready to meet our every need. When we give, we imitate God, who is the ultimate Giver, and by doing so we open ourselves for the overflowing and abundant life of the Holy Spirit where there is no lack.
The devil and our selfish nature lie to us and say that when we give, we lose. The biblical truth is, as we just have seen, the exact opposite. By giving, we receive. That is how the kingdom of God works. This is why we give, even when it seems foolish to the fallen world to do so.
Father, thank You for giving me life and everything else. I want to be a giver like You. Help me to honor You with my possessions and to trust You to meet all my needs this month. Amen.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD