BE GENEROUS

Sep 28, 2022

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  (Acts 20:35 NIV)

As the Apostle Paul bid farewell to the Ephesian Elders, he enumerated how he had served in humility, preached faithfully, and cared for the weak through hard work, in the midst of hardships. He exhorted them to follow his example in shepherding the flock, especially the weaker ones.

Some of the words of our Lord are hard for us to obey, because it hinges on SELFLESSNESS (the concern for the needs of others more than our own) and SACRIFICE (giving up something for the sake of others). It is difficult for us to deny ourselves a bit of comfort to reach out to the weak and needy, especially when we don't have in abundance.

The Lord did not say 'give when you have enough or give when feel like,' but He rather opened our eyes to the best option of what is more blessed, which is to GIVE! We all want to be more blessed, however, the dictates of our everyday hustle has the tendency to make us look inward most of the time, instead of looking around us. We genuinely forget that others must also benefit from our hard work. But the Lord reminds us in Hebrews 13:16, not to forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

GIVING / GENEROSITY is a spiritual gift (Romans 12:8), and as with all spiritual gifts, any giving or generosity should be for the “common good of the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:7), not for personal glory or recognition. We can also ask the Lord to grant us the empowerment of the gift of giving through His grace.

Dear Friend, let us get out of our comfort zones and RESOLVE to reach out to at least one weak soul today, so that through us the glory of the Lord will be experienced. As it is written: "Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else" (2 Corinthians 9:13 NIV). Take a minute and reminisce about how you felt in your heart and soul when you did someone some good which brought smiles to their faces. DO IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN!!!

MHB 601 : 3                           Every task, however simple, sets the soul that does it free; Every deed of love and mercy done to man, is done to Me. Never more thou needest seek Me; I am with thee everywhere; Raise the stone and thou shalt find Me; cleave the wood and I am there.

#inspirationalNaa✨🕊️

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