[King David] said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24a NKJV).
Sacrifice is giving something of value for something of greater value. Offering is an act of worship. God sacrificed His Son, “something of value,” for us.
From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze… (Exodus 35:5 NIV).
But if he is poor and cannot afford it, then he shall take one male lamb as a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, a log of oil, and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford: one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering (Leviticus 14:21-22 NKJV).
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you (Deuteronomy 16:17 NKJV).
Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things. And under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in the cities of the priests, to distribute allotments to their brethren by divisions, to the great as well as the small (2 Chronicles 31:14-15 NKJV).
And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:4 NIV).
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:42-44 NIV).
Be A Giver
Giving from a generous heart is the key to a successful, fruitful, and satisfying life. So be a giver! You will be a blessing to others and will your self be blessed.
[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving] (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 AMP).
[Always] treat with great consideration and give aid to those who are truly widowed (solitary and without support) (1 Timothy 5:3 AMP).
So we ourselves ought to support such people [to welcome and provide for them], in order that we may be fellow workers in the Truth (the whole Gospel) and cooperate with its teachers (3 John 8 AMP).
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV).
Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts (Proverbs 19:6 NKJV).
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor (Proverbs 22:9 NIV).
He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses (Proverbs 28:27 NKJV).
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away (Matthew 5:42 NKJV).
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble (Psalm 41:1 AMP).
He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellow-man, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor. … He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him (Proverbs 14:21,31 AMP).
Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (Proverbs 19:21 AMP).
Chapter One
Sharing Your Blessings
Questions and Review
1. What is the fundamental principle for achieving financial success God’s way? Why is this principle risk-free?
2. What is another word for “money”? In what way does this word represent how we should and should not handle money?
3. List the six reasons why you should give.
4. List the four instructions provided regarding how you should give.
5. To whom should you give?
6. List three results of neglecting to give.
7. What is the difference between tithing and giving offerings?
8. Reread the Scriptures at the end of the chapter following the subtitle "Be a Giver." Write one-word descriptions (or forms of the words) found in these Scriptures that identify how you should give or what kind of giver you should be.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте