SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (GIVING) 3: Devotion for Saturday February 27, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (GIVING) 3: Devotion for Saturday February 27, 2016

Text: Luke 6:38     Memory verse: v 38

Generosity in giving of material goods as well as love, compassion, and forgiveness of others will result in returned generosity from God and men to us. Jesus wants us to be merciful and loving, not selfish or spiteful. He is against retaliation and the concept of an eye-for-an-eye recompense for wrongdoing. The illustration here is of blessings being returned in a bushel basket, filled to the brim, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, then running over. Jesus wants our measure of mercy to overflow. Those who give easily will find goodness coming back to them. Those who are stingy and reluctant givers will receive in the same way.

There is not one text of scripture that declares the bounty of God more fully in rewarding acts of charity and mercy than our text today. Jesus assures that the recompense will be in good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over to accommodate more. Being liberal is the way to riches; giving is the best and surest way of thriving. The woman of Zarephath gave her last and that opened doors of abundance for her. Beloved, if you want to live in abundance this year, plan and give; give to genuine needy people, widows, destitute, the Levites, etc. Surely, your reward will be great. Start today by giving what you have.

Food for Thought: God has given us two hands-one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. – Billy Graham

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to give because it is a way to make me look like you, the giver of all things.