Devotionals
Usually when the selected scripture is quoted or spoken on, the speaker is referring to giving financially, but God wants us to be cheerful in whatever we give: our money, our time, our services, and our lives. He doesn't want you to complain or give hesitantly; nor does He wants you to give because you feel it's an obligation to any particular person, because you want something in return, as a source of repayment for something, or as a way of boasting on what you have or have done; but, give because you want to do it as a representation of Him, and because you desire to please Him.
I listen to conversations around worship services, and statements are made sometimes to just make you think. I often hear people making statements rushing services, or to make you think or feel that the services are barging in on their time, and they are not in attendance for the sole purpose of worship and praising God. If you took a little time to think about it, we don't have any time; we're living on borrowed time. God gives it, and at any given time, He can take it back. The least we could do is give Him a little back freely and cheerfully.
There are people that feel worship services should last no longer than an hour to an hour and one-half. Why? What else do you have to do besides drive to the home God gave you in the car God gave you to look at the TV God gave you, eat the food God gave you, and to receive the rest God allows you in the bed He gave you. You have nothing and don't want to take the time to acknowledge the chief loan officer. All that you have God is loaning to you for you to use for Him and to His glory. Stop rushing worship and praise to God. After all that He does for us, the least we can do is give Him some of His time back. One of His commandments says that we should remember the Sabbath and keep it holy; that's all day long, not just during worship services.
Some of us have cars and don't want to ride anyone. You have it because God gave it to you, and the least you could do in appreciation is offer a ride to one of His other children. We have homes that we treat as gods; we're particular about who comes, how they come, and when they come. The least you can do is open your home as a comfort to someone who just needs to feel at home somewhere, even if it's only for an hour, less or more. There are children who are living in turmoil in their own homes with verbal, physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse, or neglect of love, quality time, attention, support, spiritual and physical direction, and peace of mind; and your home is the only place they can receive a little love, attention, support, guidance and peace of mind. You give that with a feeling of being bothered or aggravated, which is not doing you any good because you're not giving it freely and cheerfully. God gave you special love in your heart to share with others, and there are people who need to feel and experience that special love; don't withhold it. You could be the very source of one person receiving salvation. God has given you a special way with children, and you only want to share it with your own kids; there are other kids out there that need it, and God intends for you to give it to them. You may be the source of that child becoming an additional source for spreading God's love.
Whatever God gives us, He gives it to us to give back to Him through His other children. None of us have everything; we all fall short somewhere, but God places people in our lives to make up for where we are short. If you are not fulfilling that purpose, you are falling even shorter and risking losing what you already have. When you turn down a Christian sister or brother who needs help, and you are able to help in some form, even if it's directing him/her to someone else, you are turning down God. He said "even as you do it unto His least ones, you also do unto Him". What if God started turning down some of our requests? What if He decided to take back what He has given us because we are using it for our will, our purpose, and our glory, and not His? A lot of us would lose our money, cars, homes, clothes, food, talents, education, jobs, and most importantly, our lives because our lives is the ultimate offering and sacrifice to Christ.
So, in all that you give, give it as if you are giving it directly back to God. You know how we are when we loan something out to people, we want it back in a timely manner, we want it back in the same condition as or better condition than when we gave it to them, and we want at least a "thank you" in appreciation of our giving. Why should God expect and receive any less? In all that you give, give joyfully, cheerfully, bountifully, and freely. If you give cheerfully and freely to God and others as God gives cheerfully and freely to you, He will add on to what you have: "be faithful over a few things, and He will add many". Be faithful with what He has already given you, and He will add unto that.
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