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A Giver Or A Taker??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #586

11 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by Blanche in Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Greed, Helping The Needy, Love, Love Is Action

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1 Corinthians 13:3, 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, Colossians 3:5-7, Ephesians 4:38, Generosity, Giving, Giving Or Taking?, Greed, Inspiring Others, Love, Luke 6:38

Bible Ballistics: BBs #586   A Giver Or A Taker???

 

We live in a culture of “gimme’, gimme’, gimme’! It seems that almost everyone wants ‘something for nothing’; everyone wants all they can get for as little as they can do.  As my husband is often heard to say about this mind set, “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can!”  But as followers of Jesus, we’ve been called to a higher standard!  I’d like to simply share a few thoughts with you today to remind us of the biblical perspective of ‘stuff’.

“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

Jesus said our giving is to be at the least, abundant; but some today teach that we are to give in order to ‘get’ these blessings that Jesus described.  I don’t think so.  We are to give because Jesus gave HIS all for us.  Paul talks about this in his letter to the Ephesians.

“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.”   Ephesians 4:38

Paul calls believers to work with their hands (or their minds) to earn a living that they may be able to share with those in need, not to ‘get more’ from God or others, but to be a blessing to those in need. Paul covers that most profoundly in his comments on love—he seems to say that if we “give to get” we are not acting in love but greed, and that nullifies our efforts!  You decide (and you might want to take some time and read this whole chapter!).

“And though I bestow all my goods

to feed the poor,

and though I give my body

to be burned,

and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3

Paul also has more to say about the attitude of givers and reminds us that it’s not the amount we give, but the heart with which we give.  And takers—well they’re ‘taken’ care of themselves! (pun intended)

“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:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits

of your righteousness;)”.   2 Corinthians 9:6-10

And here’s the message for ‘takers’!

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked

some time,

when ye lived in them.”   Colossians 3:5-7

Let’s measure our giving and taking by God’s standard!  Have a blessed day of giving as we purpose “in our heart”, to please our Father as we bless and minister to those He places in our path!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

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Who Are You Inspiring??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #572

19 Friday Jul 2019

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, Influence, Inspiring Others, Just Jesus!, Listening To God, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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1 Kings 3:9, Ephesians 1:12, Exodus 20:3, Faithful Is He, Following Jesus, Influencing Others, Inspiring Others, John 15:1-5, Living The Word, Matthew 6:24, Matthew 7:15-20, Micah 6:8, Our Faithfulness, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 119:133, Revelation 20:11-14, We Need Jesus

Bible Ballistics: BBs #572   Who Are You Inspiring???

 

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”   Psalm 119:33

As I write this, my mind goes to those who touched my life—those who helped me walk right before God; and what I find amazing, is that many of them weren’t intentionally trying to influence me, they were simply living for God and making a difference that they were often unaware of! And that ought to be the goal of our life, to touch others as God uses our faithfulness to Him, and our desire to please HIM—Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  And I can only do that as I seek to allow God to “Order my steps”! But did you catch the rest of that phrase?  God will order our steps in HIS “word”!  I must immerse myself in The Word of God, to know it intimately, that I can discern between true and false, right and wrong, good and bad.  In fact, this was one of the things that Solomon asked God for, and it has been my verse for this year.

“Give therefore thy servant

an understanding heart

to judge thy people,

that I may discern

between good

and bad:

for who is able

to judge

this thy so great a people?”  1 Kings 3:9

I would simply like to share my personal paraphrase of this passage.

I am the servant—God is my LORD and master—

(See Exodus 20:3)

I need to seek God’s understanding not my own—

(See Proverbs 3:5-6)

I am to judge/discern people’s behavior—

(but I am not The Judge who will pass sentence—

 (See Matthew 7:15-20 & Revelation 20:11-14)

I am to seek God’s standard of ‘good and bad’ not man’s—

(See Micah 6:8)

I am to recognize that only God/Jesus can help me lead—

(See John 15:1-5)

Just as Jesus told us in John 15, I must depend on Him, abide in Him, and rely upon His presence and power working in me through His precious Holy Spirit.  May we walk His way that others may be drawn to HIS love, salvation and provision by our life of devotion to JESUS, for “without me ye can do nothing”!

“That we should be to the praise of his glory…”.    Ephesians 1:12a

Remember we are influencing others, but are we leading them to Jesus or to Hell? There is generally no in between. Jesus made this clear.  May you ponder His words as we wrap up our time together, and may we truly pray “open our eyes Lord….”, that we might see YOU and follow YOUR way, influencing others for good!

“No man

can serve

two masters:

for either he

will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he

will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Our path before others is revealing whom you/I are serving.

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