Day 4 - Be Generous on Every Occasion
SCRIPTURE:
1 John 5:14
This is our confidence in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
As we launch out into our future, we must make sure of one very important thing: we must know the will of God. Without it there can be no faith or victory. Our confidence in knowing God’s will allows us to fight the fight of faith knowing we have the victory every time! Conversely, not knowing the will of God allows the enemy to easily deceive us and cause us to back down. So, before we can ask God to help us prosper in life, we must be convinced that it is the will of God that we prosper. THEN we can KNOW that we will prosper.
So what does God really think about money? For many years churches have taught that money was evil and that people who really love God would not allow themselves to get involved with money. But the truth of the Word teaches us that money is very important to God and that He wants you to have it. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 tells us that it is God’s will that you have the ability to be generous on EVERY occasion. Think about that-Paul says God wants you to be rich enough to be generous on every occasion. You must have more than enough money to be able to do that in peace. You see, God is generous and His Word says that He rains on the just and the unjust. Paul says that Christians who have money and are helping people with their money will cause those same people to praise God, because they see that you cared for them in the name of the Lord (2 Cor. 9:13).
We don’t worship money, but money is a very important aspect of life. As long as there are people in the earth who have needs and problems, we-as Christians-can never have too much money. Money in the earth realm provides answers and solutions to life’s problems. The problem with money is not really a problem with the money itself, but rather with the heart of those who trust in money and not in God. People who worship money and pursue money only for themselves can hurt other people through greed, destroying their lives through illegal profits and wrong priorities. Money is simply a tool. It will magnify what our hearts worships. If a person has a good heart, then money will be an extension of that good heart. Money allows you to increase your influence of good to those around you. This is what Paul was referring to when he described how money affects a righteous man:
He (the man who has prospered) has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever (2 Cor. 9:9).
Paul is saying that this person has great influence. He’s saying that what that generous person does with his or her money is righteous and will be remembered forever by those helped and by God.
ACTION: Start where you are and be generous to someone before the day ends.
Celebrating Freedom Together,
Pastor Gary Keesee
