Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Keep On Laughing??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #24

29 Friday Jul 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Or Taking?, Laughter is good medicine, Sharing What God Has Given, Where your treasure is--Your heart is!

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Keep On Laughing???  A Word from THE WORD!!!  #24

Another brief post this morning, as I sit here smiling and thanking God for precious friends who make my heart smile, and thank God for love, laughter, and light-hearted ways.

“A merry heart

doeth good

like a medicine:

but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22

And then there’s a direction that I’m sure will catch you off guard, but I truly believe a giving heart is a merry heart.  It’s such a delight to give with open heart and open hands—it almost always makes the giver smile; for being married to a true, godly ‘giver’ has helped me to understand that more than I ever did.  It makes me see why Paul wrote what he did—not to get people to “give”, just to “give”, but to bring people to understand that a heart filled with the “joy of The Lord” just spills over onto others in so many ways!  Being stingy, grasping, and greedy almost always leads to discontent, sadness and often sorrow over the cost the individual pays for their greed!  Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to be willing and delighted to share!

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

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:”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

It is very sad that so often we neglect this passage and relegate it to the “giving” sermons; for Paul wasn’t simply speaking of financial giving, but a heart that is sharing whatever God blesses us with!  Just as the writer of the Proverb makes the contrast between the joyful, merry heart and the broken one (and the spirit is often broken because of a greedy, clutching heart and life) for a heart full of God’s goodness ought to spill over everywhere it goes!

Paul also encouraged Timothy with a challenge in this regard, and while this isn’t exactly where I intended to go, it seems to be the way God is leading; for it is a sad, greedy, and uncaring world that we seem to be cultivating.  God calls us to be different—for true trust and dependence upon God should breed grace, caring and a sharing, giving spirit. We are to labor not just to get, but to be able to share.  Not as I’ve often heard in the modern proverb, “Get all you can!  Can all you get!  And sit on the can!”, or the other popular one, “Me and my four and no more!”  May God open our hearts to the joy of laughter, and delight in sharing with others—sharing our hearts, our lives, our resource, our wisdom, and our caring!  I can’t tell you how much it means to be sitting here smiling as I’ve been sharing experience and love with some that God sent into our lives—those sent to bless us, and to give us opportunity to smile and laugh in the sharing of God’s love!  Go—smile—share—laugh heartily!!!  It’s a lot more fun to give than to hoard!!!

“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.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:28-20

Go—gain—share—and laugh your heart out with others!!

“But godliness with contentment

is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain

we can carry nothing out.”  1 Timothy 6:6-7

And Jesus own commission:

“Lay not up for yourselves

treasures upon earth,

where moth

and rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through

and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where neither moth

nor rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

 

Let’s go—share–not till it hurts–but till laughter abounds!

Amen!!!

Grateful Hearts/Generous Hands??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 10

22 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Attitude of Gratitude, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Giving Or Taking?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Only Jesus, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 10 Grateful Hearts/Generous Hands???

 

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

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:” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Contrary to popular belief, the bounty that God gives is not for selfish consumption, but that we may “abound to every good work”— good works that God has called us to do when we become HIS children by grace through faith.  It’s not a contest, that like the world says, “The one who dies with the most toys, wins!”; but rather it’s a gift that is to be shared with those whom God calls us to bless!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For

we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

As Paul goes on to say, we are to be a people of gratitude, because we only have that which we have received—and if we have received it ourselves, how can we withhold it from those in need, or from those whom God has placed in our path to bless?  When we are truly grateful it should produce hearts and hands of generosity.  We will be willing to share as we have opportunity, thanking God for the privilege of being a blessing!  Are you thankful for what God has done for you?  For what HE is doing for, in and through you?  For the glory that is to come with HIM. (Note ‘received’ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly,

not as fools,

but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time,

because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding

what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk

with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing

and making melody

in your heart

to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord

Jesus Christ;”  Ephesians 5:15-20

Let’s take this apart for consideration, are you/I:

Walking circumspectly—with righteous character?

Being foolish or wise in our behavior?

Redeeming “our” time for God’s purposes?

Doing right regardless of the evil around us?

Understanding God’s will by knowing HIS Word?

Maintaining a sober mind (set on God not substances)?

Being filled with HIS Holy Spirit over fleshly desires?

Speaking godly words to ourselves and others?

Having and sharing God’s joyful song from our heart?

GIVING THANKS—

ALWAYS—

FOR ALL THINGS—

UNTO GOD (not self!)—

BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US?

These are questions that each of must answer continually; yet as we listen and heed the voice of God’s Spirit within us, we will find ourselves gaining the victory over self and abounding in the generous, grateful heart that God calls and equips us to express before a lost and dying world!

What have you shared today?  Yesterday?  Do you plan on sharing tomorrow?  I’d simply like to leave us with a few words of encouragement from The Word; and I pray that you have a most blessed and Holy season of Thanks–giving!  Not just a day—but a lifestyle with an “attitude of gratitude” (especially in these perilous times!)!

“I exhort therefore, that,

first of all,

supplications,

prayers,

intercessions,

and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

 2 For kings,

and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life

in all godliness

and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge

of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4

And as the author of the Proverbs reminds us:

“Withhold not good

from them

to whom it is due,

when it is in the power

of thine hand

to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour,

Go,

and come again,

and to morrow I will give;

when thou hast it by thee.”  Proverbs 3:27-28

I pray that your Thanksgiving is blessed and peaceful, and I’ll see ya’ll next time!   Amen and Amen!