DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY - GOD IS IN THE GIVING BUSINESS!

Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving. - Peter Marshall.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. - James 1:17.

There are so many conflicting doctrines regarding giving that it would make your head spin! The prosperity people tell us to demand from God, so that we can give more, and usually to them! Then there is the other extreme, where God doesn’t need anything, so hang on to your wealth! For the love of me, I can’t understand why people don’t make their giving simple, according to God’s word! It’s not to difficult to follow the instructions of God, give as He gives...

God gave Adam and Eve a piece of skin from an innocent animal to replace the fig leaves to cover their shame of nakedness.
God gave Noah a plan for the ark that would provide for the saving of his household when judgment came.
God gave Abraham a promise concerning his seed. It would be as the sands of the sea, the dust of the ground, and as the stars of the sky.
God gave Sarah a precious miracle child in her old age, and she named him Isaac. He became a mighty man of God.
God gave Isaac the promised ram to take his place on the sacrificial altar on Mount Moriah as Abraham raised the dagger.
God gave Jacob the privilege to father twelve sons who were destined to become heads of the 12 tribes of Israel, the people of the Lord.

God gave Joseph a position as prime minister in Egypt that he might rescue his own from the terrible famine in the days ahead.
God gave Moses the power to work miracles before Pharaoh and prove that God's hand was still with his own.
God gave Joshua the proposition to cross the Jordan and lead the armies of Israel to victory in Canaan.
God gave the Israelites possession of the land flowing with milk and honey.
God gave kings to preside over His chosen people and blessed those who walked in His ways. God gave prophets to plead with His people and tell them of amazing things to come.

God gave the Scriptures to prophesy of a Messiah, a Prophet, a Priest, a King, and a Saviour who would come to deliver and save.
God gave the shepherds a pronouncement by the angels that Jesus was born.
God gave the wise men a preview by a star to lead them to the young child with their gifts. God gave Bethlehem the pre-eminence of all cities of the earth. It was there that Jesus was born.
God gave Joseph the patience to understand the strange circumstances of a virgin with child. God gave Mary the present coveted by all girls of Jewish history – the Christ child.
God gave the world the Prince of Peace, the answer to all ills of all time, in all places.
God gave Jesus the place of sinners on the cross to bear the sorrow and shame.
God gave all men pardon for their sins that they might know the joy of everlasting life. - Source unknown.

God is the greatest giver there ever was and will be, we can’t outgive Him! We can learn a lot about giving from God! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3: 16.

It is so easy, if we are ‘Born Again’ we have God’s giving nature within us! For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, - Eph 2:8. Simple! Let our giving be as God’s giving!

Charles Spurgeon and his wife, according to a story in the Chaplain magazine, would sell, but refused to give away, the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, "You may have them if you pay for them." As a result some people labeled the Spurgeon’s greedy and grasping.

They accepted the criticisms without defending themselves, and only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because the Spurgeon’s were unwilling to let their left hand know what their right hand was doing (Matthew 6:3), they endured the attacks in silence. - Chaplain Magazine.

We don’t have to attend ‘Financial Giving Seminars,’ and pay money to learn how to give, or be persuaded by some smooth talking dude! It’s not too difficult to give like God, just follow His instructions and put them into practise.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be giver like you! Help me Lord, not to be swayed by every wind of doctrine, but to simply follow your example! In Jesus wonderful name I pray, Amen!

GBYAY