Reference: Luke 6:38
Of all the giving that was done by anindividual, I will have to say that the man Jesus Christ gave more than anyother person that ever lived. Could you, my friend, have anything to contribute on the subject ofbeing a cheerful giver? Christ Jesus gave his life in order that you and Icould be saved and have eternal life. Reading the four gospels that was writtenby some of the disciples of the Lord, it can be seen that Christ
lived a lifethat consisted of constant giving. How would your life compare with Christ'slife if it was compared on the subject of your giving? The word of God revealsthat Christ is the life of every true born again child of God. Are you aware ofall the aspects that you could be involved with in order to classify yourselfas being a cheerful giver? Did you know that Christ did not live for himself,but rather he lived for others instead? Just how much can you say that you giveof yourself so that others can be benefited from it? Maybe you are the type ofperson that thinks you are not capable of doing anything for the cause ofChrist, but there are many things you can do, no matter how feeble you maythink you are. The reason why some people feel that they cannot do anything forthe gospels sake is because their aim or desire is way too high.
If some peoplecan't get what they want for themselves then they will not do anything. Veryfew people are willing to do the smaller things, because this does not place themwhere they can get enough attention. Jesus tells us that a person is moreblessed to give than to receive. Everybody loves to receive, but how many arethere that actually loves to give? Did you know that it takes a very particularperson to actually enjoy giving to others that may be in need? There are somepeople who enjoy giving because of the fact that there is a gift given to themof God to do this very thing. Everybody will have a desire to give if they aretruly born again children of God, because this will be the nature of them. IfGod is in an individual, then the love of God will be manifested through themin deeds and in truth as the Bible reveals. God cannot possibly dwell in aperson that fails to give in some respect of their life. Your giving willeither lie in the realm of your service to people as in a ministry or in yourhelp or support for the ministry. God does not call everybody to preach orteach his word, but he does call everybody to do a certain thing. If you aretruly saved then you will automatically have a desire to be part of somethingthat is involved in trying to save others. The body of Christ is made up ofmany members with each and every one partaking of a work that strives to seekand to save the lost. If you have no desire to seek for the lost then you arenot a born again child of God, because this is the mind of every person thatChrist indwells. If whatever you contribute to the cause and sake of the gospelof Christ, having done it for others than for the love toward God, then youwill not be rewarded of God. If you give a portion of your money for thespreading of tracts or any other gospel literature, your giving will be in vainand profit you nothing at the judgement if you don't do it in love andsincerity in the sight of God. There are many people today that Satan is easilydevouring through the deceitfulness of this world's cares and riches. Jesuswarned of this in his word found in the parable of the sower. Many people whoreceive the word of God will be overtaken by the deceitfulness of this worldsriches. Take a good look at yourself and see where your earthly possessions arebeing used for. What do you do with the money that you make my friend? Ofcourse we have to make a living and provide for our household, but what do wedo with our money for the sake of other people's welfare concerning their soul?Do you care only for yourself and what you can buy for self? Do you spend yourmoney wisely or do you buy things only to satisfy your own selfish desires? Didyou know that God's word says we cannot be a disciple of Christ if we are notwilling to lose our lives for his sake? Do you forsake yourself or do youforsake others? Did you know that forsaking others completely is what plainlyreveals your position with God? If you are not endevoring to do all that youcan for the sake of the gospel, then you, my friend, do not possess the love ofGod. What you do must be solely for love to God or else you will receive noreward from God. Paul tells us that whatsoever we do, do it heartily, as to theLord, and not unto men. (Colossians 3:23) If you only dosomething to receive recognition of man then you are wasting your time thinkingyou are laying up treasures in heaven. If you truly love God then you will dowhat his word reveals. You must find out what the will of God is for your lifeand this can only be done by your presenting yourself to him as a livingsacrifice, holy, and without blemish, as stated in Romans 12:1-2. Many preachersthat are not truly sincere with God will harp constantly on money to get you tohelp support their ministry. Not all are sincere with God. They will milk youdry just to get what they desire. But God's word does not teach that money isneeded. A person that truly loves God will be more than willing to help get theword out to others. Many people fail to give to the help of the gospel, becauseSatan is struggling to cause them to give more attention to this worldsattractions. Many people can find money to buy new cars and new clothing, but theycan't seem to find money to help support a work for God. God will not twistyour arm to cause you to give anything, but if you truly love him then you willdo what you can. In Acts we find where people sold all their possessions andgave the money to the apostles so they could distribute it to the needy. Theysold their houses and their property in order that needy people would receiveand have their needs met. Where are the people today that's willing to do this?Let me tell you my friend, that eternal life is worth more than what this worldcan ever hold. What good is it to gain the world only to lose your own precioussoul? If you find it hard to be willing to give, then you better begin to checkyourself out with God's word and find out why this may be so. I can almost tellyou that the problem is because you are not willing to crucify your own desiresfor the sake of the gospel. Don't think that you will receive a great rewardfrom man if you give to have them know what you did. What is a pat on the backcompared to eternal life? Don't think that giving contributes to the cause ofyour getting any more completely saved, because it doesn't. We are told that wewill be rewarded by our works. If we have no works then this proves we are notsaved, because we that are saved are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesusunto good works, which God has ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)The theme of the gospel is for the saved to help win the lost to Christ. Youmust and will be willing to do this very thing if you are a child of God and sowhatever you can do you must be about the Fathers business or else be taken outof the vine as a dead branch to be cast out and burned. (read John 15:1-6)