Daily Devotion

 

Here is a searching passage, because it demands that we should examine the motives behind our generosity. 

 

(1^st) a person gave from a sense of duty. He dropped a penny in the plate, meekly raising his eyes, and glad the week's rent was duly paid for the mansions in the skies. We may give to God, and to man in the same way as we pay our income tax-as the satisfaction of a grim duty we cannot escape.

 

(2^nd) a person may give purely from motives of self-interest. Consciously, or unconsciously he regards the giving as an investment and each gift as an entry on the credit side of his account in the ledger of God. Such giving, so far from being generous, is rationalized selfishness.

 

(3^rd) a person may give to feel superior. Such giving can be a cruel thing. It can hurt the recipient much more than a blunt refusal. With the gift, a short, and smug lecture may be given. The Rabbis had a saying that the best kind of giving was when the giver did not know to whom they were giving, and when the receiver did not know from whom they were receiving. 

 

(4^th) a person may give because they cannot help it. That is the only real way to give. The law of the kingdom is this---that is, a person gives with no thought of reward, the reward is certain.

 

Life Application: What kind of giver are you? Perhaps you need to appraise your style, and times of giving. God is the only record-keeper we need to be concerned about.

Praise/Prayer: Dear Father, I know that You love a "cheerful" giver. I trust that I have lived up to what You love. You know my heart better than I do. Esther, and I have been very generous givers. We have always trusted You to supply all that we need. If I have been anything other than generous please forgive me. I love giving things away especially to people that I see have needs. Thank You for supplying all we have ever needed. Amen!