"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words The Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35 (NIV)
Luke, the careful researcher and accurate historian who was a travelling companion and the personal physician of the Apostle Paul, recorded here the words of Paul as he spoke and quoted The Lord Jesus. Paul's point was that he did not preach and teach for money, he worked to provide for himself, and to use his earnings to help support the poor. He also encouraged the people to do likewise, because as Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Too many people today are selfishly concerned with what they will receive, and care very little about giving to help others. This attitude also pervades many of our relationships. We often say that we love our friends, but we are more concerned with what we can get from them, or what they can do for us We use our friends, we don't love them. That is not Christ-like behavior. Jesus was a giving person, and He taught that it was better to give than it was to receive. He loved His friends, he shared information with them (Matthew 5:1-2), he shared food with them (Matthew 14:19-21), and He was willing to give up His life for them. (John 15:13-14) His love was and is more concerned with others than with Himself. Love is kind and it is not self-serving. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Love is giving and not concerned about receiving. God is love. (1 John 4:8 and 4:16) It is better, and more Christ-like, to give to others than it is to receive from them.
Showing posts with label giving and receiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving and receiving. Show all posts
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Be A Blessing To Others And You Will Be Blessed
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed ... He who seeks good finds goodwill ..." Proverbs 11:25-27 (NIV)
The Proverbs of Solomon contain some of the best advice ever given, from the wisest man that ever lived. Generosity will be rewarded. If you are a blessing to others, then you will be blessed. If you go about looking for the good in others, then good things will come to you.
As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Job 4:8) What we give out is what we will get back. And, one who gives will get back much more in return than they give out. A seed planted produces not just another seed, but many times more seeds, often more than one hundred fold increase. (Matthew 13:8 & 13:23) That which you want more of, try giving more of that to others. As we give, so shall we receive. He who is a blessing to others, will himself be blessed.
The Proverbs of Solomon contain some of the best advice ever given, from the wisest man that ever lived. Generosity will be rewarded. If you are a blessing to others, then you will be blessed. If you go about looking for the good in others, then good things will come to you.
As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Job 4:8) What we give out is what we will get back. And, one who gives will get back much more in return than they give out. A seed planted produces not just another seed, but many times more seeds, often more than one hundred fold increase. (Matthew 13:8 & 13:23) That which you want more of, try giving more of that to others. As we give, so shall we receive. He who is a blessing to others, will himself be blessed.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Give And Give Generously
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV)
As we give to others, that is how God will give to us. If we are generous with others, He will give to us a "good measure", not a meager amount. It will be "pressed down, shaken together", not full of air as some packages we purchase. Our blessings will be over flowing as if we do not have enough room to receive them.
If we give out in small portions, then our blessings will come to us in small portions. So, give, and give generously, and you will be abundantly blessed.
As we give to others, that is how God will give to us. If we are generous with others, He will give to us a "good measure", not a meager amount. It will be "pressed down, shaken together", not full of air as some packages we purchase. Our blessings will be over flowing as if we do not have enough room to receive them.
If we give out in small portions, then our blessings will come to us in small portions. So, give, and give generously, and you will be abundantly blessed.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sharing With Others Will Lead To Your Blessings
"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Proverbs 11:24
The principal here is that generosity produces increase, while stinginess when you have enough to share results in poverty.
"The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25
The word "fat" here equates to prosperity, and "watereth" implies to give or to bless. He that generously gives to others shall experience increases for himself. He that is a blessing to others, shall also be blessed himself. He that gives to others receives far more in return.
"What you give, you gain; and what you keep, you lose. God blesses the bountiful soul and repays what is cheerfully given." F. J. Dake
The principal here is that generosity produces increase, while stinginess when you have enough to share results in poverty.
"The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25
The word "fat" here equates to prosperity, and "watereth" implies to give or to bless. He that generously gives to others shall experience increases for himself. He that is a blessing to others, shall also be blessed himself. He that gives to others receives far more in return.
"What you give, you gain; and what you keep, you lose. God blesses the bountiful soul and repays what is cheerfully given." F. J. Dake
Saturday, October 8, 2011
God Shall Supply All Your Needs
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
In the context in which this verse was written, it implies that if you are doing His will, He will take care of you. You will not suffer because of sacrificial giving to help others. As you give to meet the needs of others, God will bless you and meet your needs.
In Luke 6:38, Jesus says "Give, and it shall be given unto you ... For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you."
In the context in which this verse was written, it implies that if you are doing His will, He will take care of you. You will not suffer because of sacrificial giving to help others. As you give to meet the needs of others, God will bless you and meet your needs.
In Luke 6:38, Jesus says "Give, and it shall be given unto you ... For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you."
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Be A Blessing And Be Blessed
"The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25
Give unto others and it shall be given unto you. The giver shall be made prosperous. Whoever blesses others shall be enriched. He that is a blessing to others shall himself also be blessed.
Give unto others and it shall be given unto you. The giver shall be made prosperous. Whoever blesses others shall be enriched. He that is a blessing to others shall himself also be blessed.
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