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~ Blessed vs. Shameful Giving ~
Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor,
because the Lord is his refuge.
Psalm 14:6
Hope Has a Place
Seq. by Johannes Karhula
Having experienced it, I would first like to share that the following verse is totally true. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
For those who have an ongoing heart of giving, your goods will gradually increase until boxes have been pressed down to fit more in them. Bags need be shaken to hold more. You will have to work at 'shutting your drawers' so that nothing hangs out. Closets will be filled, and your house and garage become so full you will begin to look for more people to give to and consider whether looking for a larger house would be a desirable option ... because you can not out give God! And even if you do get a bigger house and give away most of what you do not need, so as to not have to move it, your house will still get filled again, as blessings keep coming; often in the most unsuspecting of ways. So, it is true that there is prosperity in serving God.
Even so, the greater joy is in knowing you are helping to make a difference through the hearts and lives of those you touch; the remainder being further blessed to both bless and have a testament of God's faithfulness. And, no giving is too small as God does not ask of you more than is yours to give.
However, if you have ever known someone who would give the shirt off their back, you might be in awe (especially if you have been a benefactor) until you have seen the people who conned them and 'get to know' their family, and observe the food having been taken out of children's mouths to feed others. Then, you might have a change of mind concerning their awesomeness. And when such martyrdom in giving has become a lifelong pattern, you may also notice their adult children not serving God for fear of having to live in further poverty.
In such case, one's childhood memory is not that different than if their parent had been a gambler.
So, what went wrong? Glad you asked. :-)
You have heard it said that God is a jealous God, that He wants first place in our heart and theirs? Well, when we try to be another's God or think we know more than God, in how to meet another's need, we move God from His rightful place wherein neither our giving or their receiving can be blessed.
When following God's leading, we never experience loss by giving. When we have two coats and have not yet seen a need, we can ask God to show us who might be blessed by such extras (Luke 3:11).
And, sure, we can feed them for the moment, for the opportunity to minister to them; if that is what God is calling us to. But, God may have meant to feed and give warmth to their spiritual body. And the extra coat we are not to 'keep to ourselves' may be as was with Peter. He was using nets for his catch, from the left side of the ship, and a fisher's coat to cover his own nakedness; sin. Yet, Jesus saw Peter's need and offered him to become a fisher of men as love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12b).
The important thing, upon seeing a need, is to report for duty; to seek God for instruction. And whatever God's answer is, that is what 'we' are to do; no more and no less.
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Deuteronomy 12:32
But, what we are not called to do is to give away our blessings, as those are God's gifts to us. Neither are we to interfere with the work God is trying to do in others. If we 'cave in' to pleas for help (when they need to be looking toward God), we are agreeing to be their graven image (Isaiah 44:17) wherein our giving has then become shameful (Psalm 14:6).
God does not bless beyond that which people can yet receive, leaving them to think they would have any less need for Him. If the measure of giving would cause the receiver to place their faith in anything beyond God, they are not yet ready to receive more than the need of the moment. And, if God is preparing them for greater things, He may want them to learn to trust Him 'moment by moment'.
God is more interested in meeting the needs of hearts wherein He can, then, further bless.
By the same token, when God places a burden upon our heart, that is Him calling us (not someone else) to meet that need (Deuteronomy 6:3), to both be and experience a blessing; but only when that call comes from God (being He knows the true need of all hearts). And when we look first, for where God might show us a need, then listen for His response, we can rest assured that it is Him sending us wherein we are guaranteed to 'not be duped' in our following (1 John 2:27). And in seeking God for our steps, we observe that God sends in the most unsuspecting directions wherein it is a joy to play even a small role in God's shaping other's lives at the potter's wheel.
When solutions are not so obvious, we seek the Lord for further instruction (Proverbs 2:6). Perhaps 'within our testimony' is just the 'word of hope' needed, we happen to have the necessary tool of information, or are somehow being called upon to be their friend; if only to be the smile in their, otherwise, dreary day.
So, when need is not met the way hoped or expected, it may be that we are only called to hold their hand and remind them 'God can be trusted' and, by our own testimony of God's love, we 'know' God always answers in time; wherein we can be the needed light. And when our giving becomes spiritual, our blessings become spiritual; equipping us with all the more spiritual blessings to give. Luke 16:10-12
Have we not all one Father?
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another
... as I have loved you.
~ I'm Still God God ~
Don't worry about tomorrow,
For it may never come.
Don't fret over yesterdays
And things you should have done.
Don't carry heavy burdens
As, down life's path, you trod.
Life is hard enough, without packing that stuff.
Just trust me, I'm still God.
Don't think that you can handle
These burdens all alone,
When all you need to do is pray.
I'm still sitting on this throne.
I know every need you have.
In fact, this is my job.
But, you must have a little patience
And remember I'm still God.
It might take a little longer
To answer every prayer,
And just because I don't answer in your time
Doesn't mean that I don't care ...
As my time isn't your time.
So, don't give up and sob.
Just remember how much I love you
And trust my timing. I'm still God.
I take care of many little things
That you don't realize;
Things that you can't see, from there,
That I see with my eyes.
Your burdens are as tiny seeds.
They're just a little pod
When you remember who you're praying to.
Just know that I'm still God.
© 2007 by Vickie Lambdin
Visit Vickie at Poetry by Vickie Lambdin and Treasured Thoughts
This poem may be used in its entirety, with credits
in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.
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