Bible Text: Luke 14:12-14 “Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
Memory Verse: Proverbs 19:17 “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord — and he will repay you!”
Giving is a serious topic when it comes to the Christendom. It’s a bit controversial with people having different opinions on what to give or what not to give, when and how to give or not give and so many more. I as a person often find myself conversing with people about the attitude towards giving and more frequently I know that people have really genuine reasons to withhold that which they have but the idea behind giving in itself is not to reduce an individual to nothing but to elevate them. Saying this, it means the giver needs to see the act of giving from a different angle from the usual.
The bible tells us of many individuals who willingly gave to the Lord and to other people at various times. A very popular story which is still preached on in todays world is about how King Solomon full of wisdom, gave 22,000 cattle, 120,000 sheep, goats and praise offering to the Lord during the Temple dedication, 2Chronicles 7:5-7.
Kind Solomon clearly enjoyed giving to the Lord. At Gibeon, the King gave 1000 burnt offerings to the Lord and His whole life experienced a turnaround. According to 1kings 3:4, the time which Solomon gave that offering, he was an ordinary King who was living and benefitting from God’s covenant, the one God made with Solomon’s late father, King David. Yes, He was a wealthy king but there was nothing really especially historical about King Solomon as far as we know.
The only special assignment he had was to build the temple of God following a previous conversation with King David. Apart from the story of many concubines and God giving Solomon an avenue to ask for anything which is what he was known for, Solomon despite not being a man of war, was an absolutely exceptional giver.
King Solomon had his major breakthrough when He gave abundantly to the Lord. He attracted Gods attention and the Lord appeared to the Kong in a dream. This was the beginning of Solomon’s wisdom and greatness as a king, 1Kings 3:5–15.
Have you ever imagined God owing you? I bet you’ve never imagined that happening but the bible tells you we can lend to the Lord, but only when we give to the poor, Proverbs 19:17. You are required as God’s children to give to the Lord and your giving to the Lord is your responsibility, Luke 17:9-10. Giving to the poor, means giving out a loan to the Lord; and you are assured a loan repayment with great immeasurable interest.
Jesus tells us there is really no reward in giving to people who you obviously know will find a way to repay you, but giving to those who you know can’t repay is the real heart of Christianity.
Have you examined your giving recently? The poor are our responsibilities as Christians. Jesus confirms we will always have them in our midst so do not say “but there is no one to help” Matthew 26:11. God planted the poor all around us just in case we’re interested in giving him a loan .
Are you interested in giving the lord a loan?
PRAYERS:
- Lord I bless Your name for You are worthy of my praise
- Thank You for being a wonderful provider of each and every of my needs
- I receive a heart of compassion today, help me to identify those poor around me and reach out to them
- Help me to give genuinely and not sparingly
- Father forgive my sins O Lord and heal the land
- Thank you for answers to my prayers, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Have a wonderful day and God bless you.
