December 10th

Fender Mender

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. Proverbs 11:24-25

Does it really belong to you? You know, your money; is it yours?

Well of course, Bob, it's my money. I earned it. It belongs to me.

Really? I want you to know up front that this devotional is a test of your heart, a test to see what and where your treasure is. The payoff at the end, though, is worth the read, because God wants to do miraculous things in your life if you will simply let Him.

Everything in life ties into the issue of stewardship, and money is perhaps the chief test of our faithfulness. The standard for our faithfulness is Jesus, who gave us more than just all we have, but He gave us all of Himself. And His generosity is such that He withheld nothing from us. He has given us everything-not the crumbs, not the scraps, not after taxes-but off the top, all that He has.

Can you see the heart of God in that gift? Imagine it. Picture it. Meditate on it. Get that thought, that feeling, that concept inside you of God's generous heart that uses what He has for the benefit of others.

Is that how you think of your finances?

Well, Bob, I don't have enough finances to be generous.

I understand that a lot of people are going through hard times right now. But I also understand that God promises to be our Provider when we trust Him and do things His way, which means using our finances the way His Word instructs us.

Read our verses for today. Did you see what they say? They tell us that God blesses those who are generous. Whoever makes their life about blessing other people will be blessed by God, but whoever makes their life about blessing themselves will lose the little they did have.

God's example is that He did not withhold His only Son, giving Him as a ransom for mankind. Yet in that generosity, He gained millions of sons and daughters.

Will you trust God to bless you as you follow His Word?

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for Your Word! I confess that I do not understand how it works that generosity brings a blessing, but I choose to trust You. Please work on my heart and help me to be generous like You.

Amen