Do You Give Like God?

Our God is a generous God motivated by His great love for His creation.  He makes available and lavishes on those who will accept it, great grace and mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  He offers salvation to us free of charge (Romans 3:24). He grants forgiveness simply for the asking.  He makes the rain to freely fall on and the sun to rise on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).  He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins thereby sparing us the pain and anguish of making eternal retribution (Romans 6:23).  He is generous and we can’t out give Him, but He still desires that we be like Him concerning generosity.

What does being generous like God look like?  God-giving originates from a selfless heart flowing with love.   God mentions specifically in Matthew 25:35-40 that He considers the following actions to be loving, generous deeds: feeding the hungry, giving a thirsty person a drink, taking in a stranger when necessary, clothing those who need clothes, and visiting the sick and those in prison.  Notice that each action mentioned has a connection to another person.  God values relationship.  It is also important to note that Jesus says He personally receives these deeds as gestures of love to Him from us.

Proverbs 22:9 informs us that if we have a bountiful, giving mindset we will be blessed.  Friend, I’m hoping you have experienced the joy of the Lord’s blessing.  There is nothing that compares!  God encourages us in Luke 6:38 to give because we’ll reap a return.  Blessings will come in the form of men giving (prompted by God, in my opinion) to us a good amount, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more and more…all the way to overflow…more than enough to share again and again.

It is exciting to partner with God in giving, and not just monetarily.  Test Him.  I know you will find Him true to His word.  Overflowing blessings await those who will give like God.

Photo credit to Alec Couros