God is the
ultimate example of one who generously gives good gifts. Consider some lessons
we can learn from God about our own giving.God is the
ultimate example of one who generously gives good gifts. Consider some lessons
we can learn from God about our own giving.John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Consider some lessons we can learn from the example of the Father in giving gifts to us.
Giving is not just something the Father occasionally does. It is a regular, daily pattern.
Acts 17:25 – He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
Matthew 7:7 – Ask and it shall be given.
Ephesians 2:8 – Salvation by grace through faith is a gift of God.
1 Timothy 6:17 – God gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Giving is not something God does once a week. He does not give us just one thing. God gives regularly, sharing many things with us. We should appreciate the many rich blessings He gives. And we should respond by being generous in our gifts to support the Lord’s work.
(2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 5:11; James 1:17; 4:6; 1:5; Luke 12:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 6:23; 8:32; Revelation 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:57)
He gives, not because we are so worthy of the gifts, but because His concern for our wellbeing compels Him to give.
John 3:16 – He gave His Son because He loved the world.
1 John 4:9,10 – The sending of Jesus manifested God’s love. We did not deserve the gift because we were so righteous. He chose to give because of His own love for us.
When God gives, He is not just going through the motions. He is not paying a debt. He gives because He is genuinely concerned about every human. We should return that love and should also express it in our giving.
(Romans 5:6-8)
Many people think God is like a doting grandfather who gives people whatever they ask for, regardless of what is good for them. But the Bible says that He gives that which meets our needs.
James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from the Father.
Matthew 7:9-11 – God is compared to a good parent who gives, not what is harmful, but what is needed.
Love moves God to give what people need, even when it differs from what they want. This is why sometimes we receive different things from what we asked for. We should appreciate that God gives what is good. And we should seek to meet the needs of God’s work in our giving.
His gifts are not things that cost Him little or nothing, things that mean nothing to Him, or leftovers He does not want. Sometimes He gives things that really hurt to give.
John 3:16 – Consider how it must have hurt to give His Son to die. He did not give Jesus because He wanted to punish Him, nor because He had hundreds of sons and could spare one. He gave His only-begotten Son, whom He loved dearly.
God did not try to “get by” with a minimal sacrifice, while keeping for Himself everything He really wanted. He was generous to the point of sacrificing that which really hurt Him to give.
Our giving to accomplish God’s will should imitate the example set by the Father. We too should give sacrificially as an expression of our love in order to accomplish the work of the congregation.
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2019; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.