We Need To Be Givers

1 Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

The first thing God wants us to give Him is ourselves. If He possesses us He will possess what we possess and He will be in control of what we give and what we keep. If we are stingy about giving ourselves to Him we will be stingy about what we give Him. If He does not possess us we cannot earn salvation or any of the blessings that accompany it by giving. Giving should grow as our faith grows. Giving will include our possessions, our time and our energy. Giving will be to God and to others.

Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God promises to supply His children with what they need to give and what they need to keep.

Luke 18:11: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

It is obvious that the Pharisee had not given himself or his heart to the Lord. He was willing to give the Lord money but not himself. He was not really a giver. He was a taker.

Acts 20:35: I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2 Corinthians 9:7: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Geneva Bible Notes on 2 Corinthians 9:8:

To help others by all means possible, in doing them good in their needs.

William Burkitt on the 2 Corinthians 9:8:

Here the apostle answers the common objection against giving; men are afraid they shall want themselves, what they give away to others. No, says the apostle, God is able to make all grace and mercy shown by you to abound the more towards you, that you, having sufficiency, may abound in every good work of charity (love) toward others. Thou shalt receive silver for thy brass, gold for thy silver, grace for thy gold, and treasure in heaven for thy dross on earth.

Proverbs 11:24: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Proverbs 28:27: He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Ephesians 4:28: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Luke 6:38: 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.

Malachi 3:10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

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