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Give and it shall be Given

by Jerry Ousley  
6/26/2010 / Christian Living

You hear a lot about giving now-a-days. I realize that it takes a lot of money to carry the Gospel around the world. There are many hungry mouths that need to be fed. There are widows and orphans that need to be clothed, and there are countless numbers that need shelter. Yes, there is no doubt that there is a great need and none of it can be done without a good supply.

There are also many wonderful ministries that are endeavoring to do their part to meet these needs. They give of themselves sacrificially to fulfill the Great Commission mandated by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

However, there are also a great many who abuse the good nature of people. They know the right words to say to pluck the heartstrings. They are aware that those they are asking to give also have great needs and they teach about giving as sowing seeds so as to reap a harvest in return. As with all teaching in the Bible there is a balance. In Exodus 36 we read of how God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle. It was to be a very elaborate tent-like structure that they could take down and carry with them while in route to the Promised Land. It took a lot of skill to build and it also took a lot of provisions.

In His wonderful foreknowledge God had already provided for this work. He had granted the people of Israel favor with the Egyptians so that just before they left the land they were given the riches of Egypt. They walked out not only with their freedom but with the gold, jewels and fine materials of that nation. When it was time to begin construction of the Tabernacle God instructed Moses to ask the people to give the things needed. They did. Man, did they ever give! We are told that those over the construction of the Tabernacle had to go to Moses and ask him to tell the people to stop giving. They had more than enough to complete the work. This story makes me wonder if in today's world, if God would cause His people to give to the point that there was enough, would those receiving their offerings tell them, "Okay folks; you can stop giving now. We've got all we need!" I believe there are some who would do this. But I also believe that there are many who would greedily hoard it all up for themselves, purchasing fine automobiles, ritzy homes, expensive clothing and so forth (I believe that because there are some who are doing it right now).

We are to give. It is Biblical. It is also scripture that as we give God will bless us for it. There are many passages we could quote but I'm only going to remind you of the one found in Luke 6:38. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." What a powerful promise from our Lord!

Unlike much of the teaching today, we shouldn't give just to get back. We should give because God has prodded our hearts and in obedience to the word. We see someone hurting, sick, afflicted, poor, hungry, destitute or naked, and God tells us in our hearts, "Do something about this." We don't say, "Okay God; I'll do it but don't forget that you promised to give back to me." If we do that we are in danger of only making a business transaction. We are giving because we have a selfish motive in our minds. We only want to get back, and get more back. Is that really giving? Is that sacrificial?

Yes we are promised that God will provide. There are places where we are told that we will receive back 30 100 percent more. I believe firmly that God blesses His children who are obedient to Him but as a byproduct of our faith and giving, not as a business transaction.

Give in obedience to God and He will tell you what to give and when it is enough. Don't be selfish, but be wise, and most of all listen to the Holy Spirit in your heart. When you do you will be a blessing to others, the Kingdom will be provided for and you just might hear God speaking to your heart saying, "That's enough; you've given enough. The need has been supplied." Then He will begin taking care of you just because He loves a cheerful giver!

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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