Godly generosity

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might read 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, in the archives.

Saturday, June 6, 2009
Devotions: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-17; Deut 29:2-15; 2 Cor 9:1-15; Lk 18:15-30

Lord, hear my prayer, and answer. I am distracted by enemy attacks; my heart struggles, and I’m shaken by fears. I’m tempted to flee, but have nowhere to go. You are my Shelter; even my human friends desert me. But God will save me; He will deliver me in safety. I cast my burden on YHWH; He will sustain me. I will trust in my God! Even in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You will preserve Your purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever; please do not forsake the work of Your hands! You know me better than I know myself; there is nowhere You have not preceded me. You have made me in Your own image, and all Your works are wonderful. How precious to me are Your thoughts. I abide in You, my Lord.

Moses called all Israel to hear this message: ‘You witnessed all YHWH did for you in Egypt, defeating Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. Yet you still don’t understand. I have led you 40 years through a wilderness; your clothes and shoes have not worn out; God has sustained you where there was no food or water. As you approached the land of promise, God gave the kings of Bashan and Heshbon into your hands, and their lands fell to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Keep God’s covenant, so that you may prosper in all you do! Today, you stand before God, to enter into His covenant, that God may establish you as His people and He may be your God, as He swore to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I extend this covenant also to those Israelites who are not present here today.’

Paul writes to the church at Corinth: ‘I know it’s superfluous to write to you about the offering for the saints. I know you’ve prepared to share, so I’m sending brothers to take up that offering, proving that our boasts are not in vain—a free offering, not exacted by compulsion. Whoever sows sparingly, reaps sparingly; and whoever sows generously, reaps generously. Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give—not reluctantly or under compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver! God will provide for you abundantly; you cannot impoverish yourself by godly giving. Generosity breeds praise and prosperity for the children of God. You glorify God when you are obedient, when you share His gospel, and by your generous giving; and those whom you serve pray for you, stimulated by God’s grace poured out among you. Thanks to God for His gift, beyond our capacity to describe or express in words!’

The crowds brought even their infants to Jesus, and His disciples tried to shoo them away. But Jesus told them, ‘Let the children come to Me; don’t hinder them! God’s kingdom belongs to such as these. Anyone who would enter God’s kingdom must receive it like a child.’ A prominent leader asked Jesus, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus answered, ‘Why call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: “No adultery, no murder, no theft, no lying witness, honor your parents."' The leader responded, “I have kept all these from my youth.’ Jesus said, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell all your possessions; distribute the proceeds among the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow Me.’ But the man, who was very rich, became sad. Observing him, Jesus remarked: ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom! It is easier for a camel to enter through the Needle’s Eye gate than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.’ His listeners were amazed: ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus said, ‘What is impossible for humans is easy for God.’ Peter said, ‘Look: we have left our homes to follow You.’ Jesus responded, ‘I tell you most truly, everyone who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom will receive many times over in this life, and eternal life in the age to come.’