Seven Loves of a Healthy Spiritual Life: Love Giving

A Love for Giving

A Brief synopsis on how we can love our Brother and Sister in these trying times:

In Genesis 34 we read of a case where brothers acted impulsively, in vengeance, rather than seek godly wisdom from the one who freely gives wisdom. In other words they acted based on their emotions versus making a decision found by: seeking God in prayer, seeking counsel from their father (pastor for us today), and ultimately the Word of God.

Today people fail to listen to each other. They fail to be quite and just simply listen…they choose the easy road of judgement; God has called us to way more perfectly - that is to love one another in these trying times. He’s called us to call evil evil and righteousness righteousness as well.

What you do know will define you later on in life, just as it did for Simeon and Levi -

The New Revised Standard Version Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

5 Simeon and Levi are brothers;

weapons of violence are their swords.

6 May I never come into their council;

may I not be joined to their company—

for in their anger they killed men,

and at their whim they hamstrung oxen.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,

and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will divide them in Jacob,

and scatter them in Israel.

Gen 49:5-7 NRSV (Jacob’s last words to His sons)

Murdering a brother will have generational effects that last well beyond your little bubble of existence.

Acts 2:42-47

vs. 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Had all things common, this is not Christian communism this was in response to a need.

They were not possessed by their possessions — were willing to part with them in order to meet the need of the brethren

What created the need . . . Feeding of the widows

But consider the stingy spirit

Acts 5:1-5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Church Sign – “God judges your giving not by the amount you give but by what you keep.”

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It’s not wrong to have things, but it is wrong to allow them to dictate your life. More importantly, it wrong to lie to God when giving to His works.

What I personally find troubling is that Acts talks of a man who sold a field called Barnabas. This man freely laid the money for the field at the Apostles feet. The issue found with Ananias and Sapphira was that they sold their land and held back some of its value.

They had every right to, but it was the lie they gave to cover up the truth that troubled God. Peter even said, “You did not lie to us but to God!”

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One man’s financial gift got the attention of God.

Acts 10:1-2

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

While another’s brought the wrath of God.

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Brought a rebuke to Simon the Sorcerer because he wanted to purchase power

It seems that a church’s spiritual progress is reflected in their financial giving!

What is “Giving?”

To release, or let go of something or someone that you could hold or keep for yourself.

Why Should We be a Giver?

The Word of God teaches us to give.

2 Cor. 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Mal.3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Giving Frees us From:

Greed

Covetousness

Selfishness

Envy

Giving Brings Blessing

The law of receiving is bound by the law of giving.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The Open Hand Philosophy