Today's lesson: "Releasing the Blessing", focused on two very important prerequisites for giving. The first is LOVE; the second is a PURE HEART.
Most people cringe and squirm when a lesson is presented on the topic of Christian giving. The mere thought of giving often brings to mind the ancient system of medicine known as bloodletting where blood was drawn from a patient in hopes of restoring a proper balance and maintaining health.
The excruciating emotional pain that torments reluctant givers is supported by the statistics reported by The Barna Research Group:
Only 5%-7% of Americans give 10% or more to charity; 11%-24% of professing believers give 10% or more to their church or charity.
To avoid the pain of giving, most church-going believers simply "opt-out" and, instead of giving, choose to endure the "hammer of guilt" that comes with the occasional lashing by preachers and teachers (see slides 26-28 for the numerous excuses why people "opt-out" of giving).
When Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" He did not say, "Giving."
Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."
The Bible teaches that everything you have comes from God. He, and He alone, decides what you will have based on His purpose (not your purpose) for your life. There is nothing you can do to change this fact unless you choose to live outside of God's will. When you stop telling God what you want, He can freely work His will in your life without any hindrance. In order to reach this point of surrender, you must truly LOVE Him with all your "...heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first step to "Releasing the Blessing".
Paul said, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7The question must be asked, is your heart pure? Is your giving from a pure heart? If not, what you "have decide in your heart to give" is going to be nothing, or at best, given out of guilt.
"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart... an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart." 1 Chronicles 29:9
Our darkened hearts can only be made pure by the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer. It is a choice of your will whether you allow the Holy Spirit to overcome your soul's (mind, will, emotions) natural bent towards self. Giving from a dark heart does not release the blessings of God. The recipient of the gift might benefit from the gift, but the giver will not realize God's blessings.
With a pure heart (confessed of all sin and surrendered to God's will) giving can be accomplished cheerfully and without reluctance or under compulsion. Releasing the blessings into your life is not about giving, but about LOVE and a PURE HEART. In God's blessings you will find His peace and His purpose for your life--riches beyond what this world knows.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22
In addition to giving "what you have decided in your heart to give", it is important that you also give on a regular basis--preferably weekly. Making a regular, faithful gift, regardless of size, is a reminder that you own nothing and all you have comes from God and belongs to God.
If you are not giving regularly or seem to find excuses for why you can't afford to give, I recommend you start giving $1.00 weekly and increase it as you feel led. Even with that small, regular gift, your life will be changed forever. This small step will be more powerful than you can imagine.
"Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones..." Luke 16:10
When you truly love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and strive to keep your heart pure, you will live a life of freedom, blessing, peace, and purpose.
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17The slides from today's lesson are below.
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