Merry CHRISTmas !!! Don't forget the Christ in Christmas!!
When thinking about Christmas the main theme for this time of year is giving and receiving. We purchase gifts and make sure to enjoy our time of gift exchanges and having a good time, but Christ's focus is giving -- giving the way Christ intended.
My scripture:
"TAKE CARE not to do your good deeds publicly or before
men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven. Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already. But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly." (Matthew 6:1-4 AMP)
I found that Christ looks at giving in three manners:
1. We must give, for he states in verse 2 "Whenever you give" not if you choose to give, implying that this is what he expects from us
2. Our intentions when giving must not be to seek personal praise from man
3. Our giving should be in secret so that we can gain Gods' public reward. (This is ensure that our intent of giving is not to seek mans praise)
This path of giving has been my walk this entire year. I needed to gain a better understanding of the reason god would shape me with such a giving heart. I needed to gain an understanding because I was truly growing weary in my giving. I gave to everyone and anyone including church, never seeking praise or return but still seemed to be in need myself. I was in desperate need of a car and was about to graduate so I needed a job as well. It seems that nothing was happening for me but I remained diligent in my giving. As time when on it turns out that God was not overlooking diligence and was testing my faith because two months before graduating I got a brand new car and 3 weeks after graduating I got a great job! He was truly rewarding me publicly for all the things I gave in secret!
I am truly challenged by this and will continue to follow this walk with giving all the way through 2014 as I grow closer to Christ. Will you join me?!?
Grace and Peace!
GUEST BLOGGER FOR DECEMBER 25th: CIERRA
I sure will join you. Encouraging.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI know that giving is so hard. More importantly, sometimes worldly recognition becomes the sole purpose of why we do things. Thank you for reminding us of this scripture because sometimes we need to get back where God wants and needs us to be. I pledge to GIVE constantly, out of the goodness of my heart, and not based on what I have but based on what I want to have. Thank you for this!
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