Giving because He is trustworthy

Chapter 4: Living Generously, Even When It’s Tight

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” — Luke 6:38

Generosity isn’t about how much you have—it’s about how much you trust.  

When things feel tight, generosity can seem impossible. The natural instinct is to pull back, and protect what’s left. But the Kingdom of God doesn’t operate on the world’s logic. In God’s economy, the more you give, the more room you make for Him to pour in.

Generosity isn’t about the size of your gift; it’s about the posture of your heart.

2 Corinthians 9:7 says "each one must give as he has decided in his heart (where the Holy Spirit convicts us), not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:  "he has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 112:9)  (emphasis mine)  

We would be a miss to overlook "God loves a cheerful giver" and say instead that He understands I have nothing to give.  

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 says "Give generously to him (the poor among you) and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore I command you to be opened handed toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

God never said He would allow His faithful children to be poor.  He has always commanded us to be generous.  With that must come the "assumption," then, that we are rich, which is not an assumption because He tells us that in scripture: reassuring us that He will bless us over and over again for our generosity.  Poverty is not a trait attributed to God's children, to those who walk with Him in obedience.  Instead it is a result of a fallen world (those who have fallen away from God, which does not include you if you are following Him), and people not following God's commands to care for the needy.

May I suggest, that God's commands to care for the needy are for you to experience the blessing of being His child?  Of being able to live as if you don't have a need in the world- because you don't.  And further, it is a powerful testimony to those in the lost world that you are a child of the King, and that He is generous. As you act in His likeness, you will be extending not only His generosity in abundance, but His grace to continue to see and love others as lost sheep who can still be saved.  That they too, can trust Him with their salvation and their lives.  This is God's will!  This is His desire and the reason He sent Jesus: to show the ultimate gesture of generosity.  He did not have to worry even about His life, for He knew He would rise again.  Even this we can say with David, "God will redeem my life from the gave, He will surely take me to Himself." (Psalm 49:15)

We must over and over again turn our hands from receiving to giving.  Trusting that He will give again.  We far too often see the things we do in this world as the source of our provisions.  We must acknowledge Him as the source.  When we trust Him, and go where He leads us, we will find plenty, our attitude in serving in the workplace will change, and we will be able to let go of what is not ours; including jobs that are not where God wants us.  

If we are experiencing a lean season, we must draw nearer to our provider, and hear Him direct us.  He can speak loudest during this time, when we are most desperate and ready to hear.  Often He will ask us to trust in action, doing something we can't fathom in our worldly mindset.  But that is how we grow in trust and in testimony.  Nobody can tell you God didn't when you know He did.  Giving before we receive- with a grateful heart for our own needs being met- shows  our Heavenly Father we trust Him for what we need.  

It’s in the lean seasons that our trust can grow the most, and generosity shines the brightest—because that’s when giving is an act of faith, not convenience.

Remember to over and over again thank Him for what He has already done.  Build your faith muscles.

In closing for today, I encourage you to read Psalm 112, and hear God speak over you.

Lord, gracious, generous and Holy Heavenly Father.  Thank you for loving me, and all your people, so much that you would give even a life, even Your own self in Your perfect and blameless Son, Jesus Christ, to show us there is no need we have that is too great.  Further, that there is no reason for us, as your children who are now seen in the same righteousness as Your Son, to feel like we lack anything.  Instead, we can live as generously as Jesus did, giving whatever is given to us, just as He did with the loaves and the fishes, because you will multiply in our giving, the blessings.  Thank you for showing us that over and over again; open my eyes that I would see you moving in my life over and over again.  You are so good, so patient with me in my wickedness to not acknowledge You as a generous Father.  Lord, forgive me, and help me to live out of Your grace.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!