Generous Givers

“But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) 
          It is just as important to excel in giving as it is to excel in our praise and worship. We should be known as the most generous people in the world. We are not just the people who worship well, or heal the sick—our generosity should reflect the generosity of God.
          And we should view giving as a great privilege. “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” 2 Corinthians 8:4 (NIV). When was the last time you thanked God for the opportunity of giving?
          God dramatically releases his love and grace into the lives of cheerful and generous givers. This is not magic or an investment in the stock market. God’s design is: sow sparingly, reap sparingly. In his heart God loves a cheerful (hilarious) giver. As you give generously, you are defying everything that Satan stands for—you are refusing to be held captive by his doctrines. Let God be true—He will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory—and let every man be a liar. 
          Let’s look at this passage: “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.” Psalm 118:24-25 (NKJV)   
          The Hebrew for prosperity literally means: “To push forward and break out.” Don’t let yourself be kept from God’s purposes for your life. Don’t let the hand of the enemy overrule the hand of God. Ask God to empower you to push forward and break out of the bondage the enemy has kept you in. Ask God to make you generous!
-Pastor Dino Griffin