May 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

There are a lot of great churches and ministries out there, but let me tell you one church that was not exactly a model church-Corinth.

Why was the church in Corinth so bad? Well, because you could really sum up many things they did with one word-selfishness. And in their marriages, families, fellowship, spiritual gifts, giving, and everything else, they put themselves first before others. They thought the Christian life was all about themselves, instead of it being about Christ and His love for His entire body.

One particular area that Paul needed to address was that of giving, and I think we need to learn from what he says, too.

Now, this isn't about me. I don't have any beef. I don't have an agenda in teaching on this other than this: I want our church-that's us, not the buildings-to be ten times more effective in ministry than Corinth was ever known for being.

I'm saying that I want you in your life to be blessed all the more because of your faithfulness to God where your finances are concerned. And let me remind you of what God gave for you-everything, I mean everything! So we should not be bashful now in talking about what we give back to God.

But in case you didn't notice, let me say it again, that I want you to be blessed because of your faithfulness. Because, yes, there is a great big blessing for us when we're faithful to give as the Lord instructs us.

In fact that's what it says in our verses today; did you notice? Go back and read it again. Let it really soak in.

Now, that's some good news, there. There are those who scatter, who spread it, who share it. And you know what? A lot don't. It's kind of getting hard in this culture and recession to find sharers.

Yet God's Word says it's the ones who are sharing who are increasing the more. But the ones who are hoarding, who are holding on, find that strategy unfulfilling. In fact, it leads to poverty.

Why listen to God's Word for what He says about giving? Because there's poverty in disobedience, but blessing and increase in obedience.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for providing for all my needs and for teaching me how to be faithful with all You have given me! I choose to loosen my grip on all that You have given me and ask that You show me where to share.

Amen