How willing are you to give to others? Do you willingly give to charities? Do you actively look for opportunities to share with those who are less fortunate? Or are you hording every dime for yourself? Do you give regularly to your church?
There are more charitable organizations available for us to give to than we can count. They are specialized for diseases, research, feeding people, clothing people, and providing for people in many other ways. We cannot deny there are opportunities to help others.
On the one hand, we cannot give to every charitable organization. On the other hand, we are called to give to those in need. But have you wondered why there are so many charitable organizations and why they are constantly asking for donations? I suggest it is due to the enormous need in our world today. The cynic will state there are rip-offs out there, and that is true. But that doesn’t give us a valid reason to refuse to give. It simply means we must be wise in our giving.
We are called to share. We teach our children when they are young to share their toys, take turns riding a bike, and take turns shooting the basketball. We applaud the child who shares their lunch at school with a child who has none. Yet when we become adults, we stop sharing.
Notice what the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth in today’s passage. There are three key points in it:
- Sow generously and reap generously.
- Give willingly and with a cheerful heart.
- God will bless you abundantly.
When you boil it all down, it comes down to the condition of our heart. If we want to know if our heart is in good condition, take a look at how much we share with others. If we want to measure how much we trust God, measure our giving.
You see, when we trust God, we share, we give, and we allow Him to provide for us. When our heart is focused on God, we see the hurting and less fortunate in the world and desire to share what God has blessed us with. We become His hands and feet to others. How is your heart?
I pray we all take a hard look at our giving. I pray we measure our hearts by God’s yardstick. I pray each one of us decides to give cheerfully to God’s purposes and trust Him to provide. Share what you have been blessed with. Give to others. Give wisely. Trust God. Know that He will bless you.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Marty Pressey 