Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Category: Giving

Why Give? :: Discipleship expression

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On September 21, 2012

In Christian, Giving

The first definition of the word “disciple” in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is as follows: “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” But is this definition complete? According to Jesus, one must give up everything to be Jesus’ disciple (Luke 14:33). In other words, in addition to accepting and assisting in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one must abide by the words of Jesus Christ and abandon everything he or she owns, in order to be a disciple of Jesus. This means, that to give up (abandon) is an expression of discipleship.

Points to ponder:
Can you/I count ourselves as a disciple of Jesus Christ? In other words, have you/I given up everything we own? Giving up our life so that his life is lived in and through us is what discipleship is about.

Luke 14:33 (NLT)
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Why Give? :: Possession expression

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On September 20, 2012

In Christian, Giving

The lyrics of the song, Freely, Freely (God forgave my sin), that I learned in Sunday School during my youth is as follows:

God forgave my sin, in Jesus name
I’ve been born again, in Jesus name
And in Jesus name, I come to you,
To share his love, as he told me to
He said, “Freely, freely, you have received.
Freely, freely, give.
Go in my name and because you believe
Others will know that I live.”

Jesus told his discples, freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). Giving is an expression of “possession”; of having received from God. What have we received from God? We have received not the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God (1 Corinthians 2:12). In other words, those who possess Jesus Christ are the one who can give him freely for the Salvation of others.

Points to ponder:
Only those who have received can give and so the question is, have you received the Spirit of God who is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ? If you have, are you giving freely whom you have received as you have received. Are you/I not only possessing Jesus Christ in us but is He possessing us, which would make us respond by “giving” him freely as we have received. 

Matthew 10:8 (KJV)
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV)
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Why Give? :: Righteousness expression

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On September 19, 2012

In Christian, Giving

Proverbs 21:26 states that the righteous give and do not hold back. The New Living Translation renders this verse as “the godly love to give”. In fact, giving itself is an expression of righteousness, because the one who gives without sparing believes in God to be the supplier of all their needs. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given back to you” (Luke 6:38). Abraham knew this and he was willing to give his son, his only son, Isaac, whom he loved, as a sacrifice to God, because he believed that God will give his son back to him, even if that meant, that God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:9). Abraham believed God (and gave without holding back) and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3:6).

Points to ponder:
Are you willing to give your ALL without holding back? Let us give our everything to Jesus Christ and believe in him so that we are accounted righteous in God’s sight. The righteous give and spares not in anything.

Proverbs 21:26 (KJV)
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

Galatians 3:6 (KJV)
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Why Give? :: Cheerfulness expression

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On September 18, 2012

In Christian, Giving

While watching the Veggietales movie on St. Nocholas – A story of Joyful giving, with our beloved six year old son, Reuben, there was a dialog in the movie that caught our attention. The dialog was about the reason for giving and the character says “We give not because it makes us happy; We give because we ARE happy.” This in in fact supported Scripturally because Proverbs 22:9 (NLT) affirms that “Blessed (cheerful) are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” God loves a cheerful (blessed) giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Points to ponder:
So are you cheerful? In other words, when you give to God for God, do you give out of the expression of your cheerfulness. God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 22:9 (NLT)
9 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (KJV)
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Why Give? :: Love expression

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On September 17, 2012

In Christian, Giving

We are counseled to give (offer) our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. But why give? Giving is the true outward expression of inner love. God so loved the world the world that HE GAVE us his only begotten son, through whom came eternal life. When we love God, we will give as an expression of our love for him.

Points to ponder:
Do you/I truly express our love for God? In other words, do you/I give (offer) our bodies as a living service to God which is reasonable service.

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 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.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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