THE GOD I SERVE
Daphne Powell
Today’s Scripture: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25, NLT
Theme: The blessed life is found in becoming a generous person.
GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME
6 am, you wake up, out of the house by 8 am, home by 5 pm and after dinner in bed by 8 pm. Rinse and repeat 7 days a week. But where was time for Jesus, time for serving, time for worship, time for healing? God gave us life for His purpose to build His kingdom. So, when are you giving of your time for Him? Everyone is busy but blessings flow when we obey.
When you don’t have time… you missed the homeless person, you missed the person deeply depressed wishing someone would just see them, you miss the person right in your house or work who wants to know who Jesus is. Find time for others and you will see how God blesses your time.
GENEROUS WITH THE FUNDS
Starbucks, Amazon, streaming TV, and gym plans are acceptable expenses. Month after month we spend on things we want for ourselves. But do we give to others consistently? Not just tithes, but when have you brought food for the Food Pantry, given clothes to Called to Care, given to Global or helped finance a teenager to attend Cove camp? We should be generous with our funds because it's by God’s grace that we are not in need of the receiving end of the services we give to provide.
When you don’t give… you missed the opportunity to keep someone from being homeless, you missed feeding kids that are hungry because in the summertime they are not in school getting a guaranteed meal. Find the funds for others and you will see how God blesses your funds.
GENEROUS WITH YOUR TESTIMONY
Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, maybe we use them. Everyday all day. Maybe we have influence at work or in leadership outside of work too. Able to share the gym workout, the shopping trips, the vacations, the kids playing in the yard. We should be generous with telling our story, our walk with Jesus, how He changed our lives, not the attempt to show the world how worldly or successful we are.
When you don’t use your platforms to share your testimony… you missed the opportunity to show a non-believer that we have the same struggles, you missed the opportunity to show a believer that is struggling with their faith how God showed up for you in the storms. Find time to share your testimony with others and you will see how God blesses your testimony.
GENEROUS PERSON
Generosity isn’t about boasting to others or feeling like you must do this to get into heaven. Being generous is more about following who Jesus is. Wanting to draw closer to Him by being an example. Knowing that the feeling we get when we obey Him fills our cup so that we can pour into others.
Make It Personal: I know that I feel best when I give my time, my funds, and my testimony. Not for me to gain favor, but to know that this seed planted can now grow. To know that my relationship with Jesus is something that I want a non-believer to know and that the storms survived is what I want a believer to know. I’m generous because I know the God I serve expects this from His children. How about you? Where can you increase your generosity today?
Pray: Dear Lord, please help the richest county in the world to understand that giving to the poor is what God wants us to do. Being generous brings joy and peace to the giver. Amen
Read: Proverbs 22:9, 1 Timothy 6:18, 2 Corinthians 9:6
Weekly Memory Verse: “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.” Isaiah 66:2b, NLT