Grace of Giving

Have you taken time to consider the generosity of Jesus? The king became a servant and gave His very life away that we would be crowned in glory.

“The Lord said to me, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land...all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of the other Israelites. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you...Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan...That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land"

‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬, ‭18‬, ‭22‬-‭26‬, ‭28‬

The people kept moving forward because of the promises they had been given and God's presence that led them. What motivates and moves you today? Why are you doing what you are doing? What hope or promise are you moving towards? How is that shaping how you live?

Not everyone got to see the promised land though. Moses, the man who led the Israelites, was given a firm no when he asked to cross the Jordan. Doesn't it seem a little unfair that a man who gave up so much and followed God so closely did not get to go to the promised land? When we face times where we do not understand why God opens a door or closes one, it is best for us to remember that God disciplines those He loves so that they can walk the path He has planned. It is at the moments where we do not understand what is happening and with the decisions that we make in those moments that the depth of our trust in God is revealed.

God says no to Moses then commissions him to help Joshua. How would you respond to this challenge? Do you have the strength of character and humility to celebrate when others are successful? We all have friends who do not celebrate when we celebrate. There are people who like to one up each other or curse another's blessing. ‭This is not how it should be among followers of Jesus. Our Messiah, our Savior, gave up everything so that others would be lifted up. Do we have the same heart? Where do you need to let go of your own plans or desires so that God's plans and God's will can be done?

“Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy"

Psalms‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭9‬

Are you a parent? Have you ever disciplined your children when you are angry or gave out consequences when you were upset? How well did that go? David does not say Lord do not discipline me. He knows it is best that the Heavenly Father disciplines him. He simply asks that it is done out of love and not anger at something David had done.

Notice that David knows there will be a time when healing will come and God will have mercy. David does not say will you have mercy. He simply asks how long. Isn't that a different mindset? What does it say about how David trusted God that he uses when and not if? He declares the truth. God heard his prayers. Do you ever feel like God does not hear your prayers? Don't listen to the lies of the enemy who wants to think that somehow your prayers are not heard or you are unworthy of a heavenly answer. Stand on the truth of God's character. He is a redeemer. He is a restorer. He is merciful and compassionate. ‭

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil...Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing...My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline...because the Lord disciplines those he loves...Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” when you already have it with you.” ‭‭

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭14‬, ‭17‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬

What is Solomon really saying when he says let love and faithfulness never leave you? God is faithful and God is love. He is speaking to the oneness, the connection with God, that we are meant to hold on to no matter the circumstance. God said my people of the new covenant will have my laws written on their hearts. Solomon says the same thing. Store of God's words, the very words that are written out of God's faithfulness and God's love, in your heart. These words have life and will guard you when you need them most.

Solomon says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understand; in all your ways submit to him. This sounds great when we say it, but is really quite hard to do. The tricky word is all. Wouldn't it be easier if Solomon said trust with most or some or as much as you are comfortable with trusting? The whole idea of submitting to Him echoes the words of Paul who says that we are saved when we believe in the risen Jesus and make Him Lord of our lives. What does your schedule, your giving, your words, and your actions say about how much you trust God and whether you are submitting to His ways?

Solomon says God gave you everything you have so demonstrate your trust by giving back your firstfruits and the best of what He has given you. Solomon says give back to God and be eager to give to those in need when you see a need. We live in a world with overwhelming needs of which not one of us has the solution to all the world's problems. Solomon doesn't say that we are responsible for all people. He teaches us the simple principle to do for the one person what you wish you could do for everyone. Help the person you can help. Give to the one that you can give to and in doing so you demonstrate your trust in God that He will refill your cup. What does your giving say about your trust in God? Do you know anyone who currently has a need that you could help today? ‭

“Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood...Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me...Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!...None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them...I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33‬:‭5‬-‭11‬, ‭16‬-‭20‬

Ezekiel is given a challenging truth by the Lord. He is told that he will be held to the standards not just of what he does not do wrong, but what he does not do that is right. This is the teaching of sins of omission and sins of commission. What does that mean you might ask?

We are taught to follow the commandments and naturally agree with the ideas that we should not lie, cheat, steal, and more. Many people live according to the truth that there are sins you should not do. God has a higher calling than just avoidance though. He calls us to bring the kingdom. God says that if you do not help those in need and share the truth then you are responsible for other people. Jesus said this another way. He said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. There is a duality to living that involves both following Jesus closely and making sure you are aware of how you are living a life of impact on the world around you. Are you balanced in your faith walk? Are you growing both in your personal relationship with God and trusting Him to use you to help others?

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity...they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving...For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬-‭9‬, ‭12‬, ‭21‬

How would you expect people to respond when they face hardships in their lives? Would you not expect people to hunker down, grin and bear it? Would you not expect people who are going through trials to give less, help less, and focus more on what they are going through? Paul shares a powerful testimony of people in Macedonia who went through what he called a severe trial. Remember if Paul says that something is a severe trial that it must have been bad. Paul was beaten, whipped, stoned, and maliciously attacked. If he says it was bad, then it was bad.

How do the people respond to the test? Do they withdraw and do their own thing? Paul says the trial they faced produced overflowing joy and rich generosity. Paul says they turned to God rather than running from God and in doing so continued in the will of God. It is remarkable that this story aligns with Proverbs three today. Is this not a perfect example of trusting God with all your ways and not leaning on your own understanding, but submitting to His will to be generous? How would you have responded? How have you responded when going through a hard time?

Paul says that the secret to unlocking the blessing and grace of God is by trusting God through all the ups and downs of life. Paul says that having a heart of generosity and that giving is a grace. Have you ever thought of giving as a grace that you receive? Think about a time that you gave something and made someone's day or helped them out. Did it now fill you with joy? Giving is a grace and trusting is blessing because these are from the Lord.

God is always faithful. He is always loving. He always provides and watches over us. He knows where you are and what you are going through and He wants to lift you up by learning to live like Jesus. Jesus who gave up everything. All the riches of heaven and became poor that we might become rich in everlasting love. Jesus is the greatest gift of grace that mankind has ever received because God is a generous God who excels in the grace of giving. What can you learn today? God has abundant plans for you. You have a hope and a future. He wants to guide you to your preferred future as you trust Him, as you lean on Him and as you submit to Him just as Jesus did.