generosity(6/0)
Generosity evidences faith in God's provision
Those who place their trust in Jesus to pardon them on the day of judgment must place that same trust in him to provide for their basic needs today. It won’t do to say, “Jesus will rescue me from future judgment,” while one’s current attitude is “I must rescue myself from poverty and need.” Might it be possible that those who will not rely upon Jesus to save them in the present age demonstrate that they have no real faith in Jesus' salvation at the judgment?…
Blessing is contingent on generosity
💬 At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.…
Favor generosity over profit margin
💬 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.…
Generosity builds kingdom equity
💬 Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' But he said to him, 'Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?' And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.' And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, "…
God judges corporations
How does God approach corporations? Does the Lord treat corporations as single entities, as we do in our American law code, or does he only deal with the individuals who make up the corporation? The judgment of God against nations indicates the former. When the southern kingdom of Judah was sent into Babylonian captivity, it was not because every individual had turned from God. After all, the prophets who wrote about Judah’s last days also went into captivity!…
Justice is more than absence of harm
💬 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (ESV) As I reviewed the many passages about justice for the fatherless and the widow, so many refer to defense and the absence of oppression that it might appear a righteous person is one who doesn’t directly harm the poor.…