Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 19: Giving My Resources”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What makes generosity so blessed?
For what would you ask if God invited you to ask for whatever you want and he would give it?
Tempting to ask for millions of dollars, a big new house, or the ability to ask unlimited requests of God.
One person was given this opportunity: Solomon
2 Chronicles 1:7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave that. Solomon didn’t ask for riches and wealth. God also gave that.
So not only was Solomon one of the richest men the world has ever known, he was the wisest.
So, it would make sense we could learn something about the blessings of wealth (and dangers) from the wealthiest, wisest person of all time.
Here’s a few of his sayings from the Proverbs:
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Generosity from the Lord leads to generosity toward the Lord which results in generosity from the Lord.
The blessing of giving to the LORD first is that he is faithful to bless you through what remains. While we don’t “give to get,” we do give and the Lord gives. With the earth being the Lord’s, I pretty sure you can’t out give the generosity of the Lord!
Proverbs 11:24-25
One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Generosity is counterintuitive. It would seem the more you give away the less you have. However, the more you give away, the more you “refresh others,” the more you will be refreshed.
The blessing of generosity is a heart that holds on to stuff loosely, to bring blessing to others.
Proverbs 11:28
Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Wealth can give a false sense of security when we trust it more than the Lord. Wealth is not bad or evil, but the love of it is. If our heart trusts money to give us value, worth, and security, we are trusting wealth to do something only the Lord can do. When you think about it, why would you trust in the wealth God gives instead of trusting in the God who gives it?
There are many passages about wealth…the blessings of it and the warnings about it. When you focus on the blessings and promises about generosity, there is no reason not to be generous. Try it and see how the Lord blesses you!
Apply: Which of these proverbs is the most challenging for you? Ask the Lord to work greater trust, contentment and generosity in your heart and life.
Prayer: Lord thank you for all the wealth you have given to me. Help me to be content with what I have, generous in what you have given to me and always honoring you with the wealth entrusted to me. AMEN.