In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”-Acts 20:35 ESV
Warrior;
Loving is giving, GIVING IS LOVING! Love is a VERB it is not a feeling, it is not a NOUN, it about doing, sacrificing, paying, long-suffering- it is about GIVING! For God so loved the world that HE GAVE HIS ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the WORLD, HE GAVE! For you so love your family, you GIVE. For you so love your country, YOU GIVE. For you so love your GOD, YOU GIVE. BE LIKE GOD and be a CONDUIT- GIVE grace, mercy, forgiveness. For it was given to you, so that you can give FREELY!
Leader, God talks a lot about GIVING and LOVE. If God mentions something one time, it is important. If He mentions it many times- it is really, really, REALLY IMPORTANT. The LOVE chapter of the Bible 1 Corinthians 13 is labeled; Love Is the Greatest Gift. 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) The Good News Translation of John 15:13, puts is simply; The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. We are called to give and by giving we will be BLESSED! “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)
Conduit, God goes as far as to say if you DON’T GIVE, if you have and can help and DO NOT GIVE, then He says the Fathers LOVE IS NOT in you! By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (1 John 3:16-17) God’s book of wisdom, the book of Proverbs is replete with calls to be GENEROUS, to give! “He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” (Proverbs 22:9, 28:27) Be like GOD and be generous with all your STUFF. Use it to store up treasures in heaven, NOT IN YOUR 401K or your RETIREMENT account. Little children let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:19-20)
