God Keeps Giving and Giving

I believe that every person should consider which side of their bread was buttered on, and by whom.  We are a nation of plenty, not like some countries that are struggling.  I am glad I was born in America.  Let’s face it, whatever we have, the Lord supplied it. 

Some people want to take credit for their success, inclusive of everything they own, but God gave the increase by giving individuals the mental capacity and drive to accomplish their goals.  Good health certainly enters the equation of success, which allows a person to achieve their desires through hard work and persistence.  We have God to thank for this.  He gives and keeps on giving.

Because of education or being self-taught by reading “How To” books, these people are knowledgeable and have abilities that far surpass the average thinker.  They can see through and grasp how to solve complex issues better than the next person.  Not everyone has this aptitude.  It is God given.

I have used the phrase “Jack of all trades and master of none” to explain my abilities to accomplish certain milestones.  But one thing is certain, I recognize it is because of God that I can do what I do, and I give Him praise for the agility and conviction to get things done.

I try to never take things for granted as relying on my own intellect or position in life to accomplish something.  I owe all my capabilities and all that I have to God.  We can do nothing without His influence.  Being puffed up in oneself is vain, but there are those that do this, while failing to give credit where credit is due.  

There is no justification in trying to take the glory for whatever is done without giving God the praise.  I never want to usurp God’s influence and set myself above Him by taking credit for things that He was in control of.

Those that elevate themselves above another person are prone to look down on those less fortunate.  This is wrong anyway you look at it.  The act of trying to elevate oneself means nothing in the scheme of things. 

There are people around us that may seem a bit odd or out of sorts at times, yet they remain happy in the Lord exactly where they are.  Their expectations of achieving a higher standard of living are usually secondary in their thinking.

These individuals, no doubt, are full of skills and talents that may exceed the intellectual faculties of the person who is looking down their nose at them.  Those that think they have achieved total success in their own eyes are failing to recognize the vanity within.  

Those that seem out of sorts to the onlooker, could very well be the next person to discover an antidote or vaccine that eradicates certain diseases.  They may be the ones to achieve tectological innovations that could change the course of history forever. 

Each of us has our own special gifts and abilities given to us by God Almighty.  He created us and gave each person everything needed to succeed.  Just because a person is perceived to be lacking in certain areas does not justify ridicule. 

No matter how sophisticated or high on the scale of success a scoffer ranks themselves, it does not warrant the display of unkindness.  Even though we have God-given talents of which He gave us, anyone, notwithstanding rank, could find themselves in a desperate, unsettling situation at any time, with assets gone.

From the wealthiest to the less fortunate, we are all privileged to have received the breath of life that God breathed into us. He provides the oxygen we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.  The Lord is supreme and the hope of mankind.  No one should think of themself as a higher power of some kind.  God gives the increase. 

Humanity, created by God, puts on trousers one leg at a time, no matter how expensive or inexpensive they might be.  Though some people live in luxurious homes and others in poor areas, we all sit to do our business, whether in a polished, self-flushing commode, or some other type of receptacle. 

No one should elevate themselves above another person.  Those that look down on others need to reevaluate themselves and find compassion rather than finding fault in others. 

God is the One we need to honor wherever our station in life may be.  God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.  Remember, wealth and status can, in a moment of time, turn to poverty because of failing stocks, health issues and a thousand other reasons. Anyone of us could find ourselves wanting before another day passes.

It is only by the grace of God that we live as well as we do.  We need to keep in mind that God is our source, not our position, fame, or fortune.

When we take our eyes off ourselves, we can see more clearly those less fortunate, and help when we can.  If a legitimate need presents itself, we should listen to our heart and assist as God directs.  I believe that the Lord honors those that give, not only monetarily, but their time as well.  God blesses us as we bless others, while doing His service.  You cannot outgive God.

(Matthew 25:34-40) “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’ (35) ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;’  (36) ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  (37) “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?’  (38) ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?’ (39) ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ (40) “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ”

Everything on earth was created by God and everything belongs to Him.  We are stewards of His creation, and everyone matters to Him whether rich or poor. 

We are accountable to do good unto others and help as we are prompted by the Holy Spirit.  If we give a cup of cold water in the name of the Lord, we have done it unto Him.

(Luke 6:38) “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

I believe that God is still taking inventory of our actions and follow through in how we treat one another.  We should not allow our heart to become callused and hardened like a stone but keep it a heart of flesh when considering the needs of others.

(1 John 3:17, 18) “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (18) “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  He gives us a mind to discern the purpose and motivation of those around us whether there is a genuine need that we should give our attention to or continue our way.

I also believe that God expects us to work for the bread on our table and give Him thanks for it.  We are to give an honest day’s labor for the wages earned.  But because of circumstances beyond a person’s control, they may not be able to work.  This is where the work of the Lord acts in love. 

We need to keep our ears open to the voice of God and be willing to give when a sincere need presents itself.  He will let the giver know how a need can be met, and then do what the tenderness inside you tells you to do.  God will pour blessings your way that you cannot contain.  We do not give to get, but it works that way, because the Bible says that it will.  (Luke 6:38)

There is no feeling like receiving a sincere, heartfelt thank you from a person you ministered to, as you look at the smile of appreciation on their face.  The fulfillment you get is payment enough, because you know a need was met through yielding to God’s Spirit.  It is amazing to be used of God to meet the need of someone that was in a bad place.  Have ears to hear what God is saying.

Another area of giving involves one tenth of the money we earn.  It is called tithing, which is a commandment of God.  I have found that I can do more with ninety percent of my earnings than the full one hundred percent.  It just works that way.  God keeps giving and giving as I honor His Word.

(Malachi 3:8) “Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’   In tithes and offerings.”

I want to be right in all my decision making and not wrong in the choices made on earth.  We cannot outgive God, because He keeps giving and giving into our bosom as we give away from ourselves.  He has blessed me beyond measure my whole Christian life since I started tithing.

God bless you as you consider the words you have read.

Written by,

Papa Boyd