From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>
Subject: Rejoicing in the Goodness of the Lord
Date: Sunday, May 07, 2000 8:15 AM

"The generous man will be prosperous,
 And he who waters will himself be watered."  Proverbs 11:25

God, in His loving kindness and tender mercies, has given us all things in
Christ and because we are His, how can we not also generously give?  The
awesome thing is that in the giving, much is returned.  I'd like to share
some Scriptures that make this very clear.  There is then a blessing in
giving and there is a consequence in withholding.

"Honor the Lord from your wealth,
 And from the first of all your produce;
 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
 And your vats will overflow with new wine."  Proverbs 3:9-10

"There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more,
 And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in
want."  Proverbs 11:24

"He who is generous will be blessed,
 For he gives some of his food to the poor."  Proverbs 22:9

"And if you give yourself to the hungry,
 And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
 Then your light will rise in darkness,
 And your gloom will become like midday."  Isaiah 58:10

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, running over, they will pour into your lap.  For by your standard
of measure it will be measured to you in return."  Luke 6:38

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who
sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully."  2 Corinthian 9:6

How are we to give?
According to income/ability:
"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord
your God which He as given you."  Deuteronomy 16:17 (Note the second part)

In secret:
"But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand
is doing that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret
will repay you."  Matthew 6:3-4

Freely:
"...freely you received, freely give."  Matthew 10:8

Regularly (as the Apostle Paul is saying in 1 Corinthinas 16:1-2):
"Now concerning the collection for the saints...On the first day of every
week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no
collections be made when I come."

Cheerfully:
"Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or
under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7

I see this as being all the goods that God has so graciously bestowed on
each one; time, talent, money, knowledge, strength, etc.;  all available.
As Christ lives His life through us, we freely give Him access to all so
that it may be used according to His purpose.  This, of course, means that
we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, for He is the One sent by the
Father to lead and guide us.
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."
Romans 8:14

I mentioned above that there is a consequence in withholding.  Here are a
few
Scriptures that speak of consequence and warning; Proverbs 21:13; 28:27;
Ecclesiastes 5:13; Luke 12:15, and there are others.

This is the chorus of a song we sing in our Fellowship, and as God's people
let's let our giving be a testimony to the glory of our gracious, loving
Lord and Savior.  Praise to Him now and always!

Freely (chorus)
"He said, Freely, freely,
You have received,
Freely, freely, give.
Go in my Name and because you believe,
Others will know that I live."