Living Generously

Scripture: “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“God loved so much . . . that He gave.” This sums up the generous heart of God, and is an example for us, His children. In fact, we are most like Him when we are giving generously and even sacrificially.

Giving Beyond their Means

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-3, Paul commends the Macedonian believers: “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” These Christ-followers did not wait until they were financially comfortable or even stable, and they gave“beyond their ability.”

Do Good and Share

What has God given you to share? Are His blessings the type you can pass on? The Bible says, “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16). Timothy reminds Christians to "use their money to do good, [to] be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others" (I Timothy 6:18).

Generously sharing with others is one way to “store up treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 6:20), and keeps greed and selfishness from growing in our hearts.

Let’s pray for the day when Jesus’ followers are known more for their generosity and kindness than for what they are against.

The Power of Encouragement

Scripture: “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Pray for Guidance

Four years ago, my husband and I were seeking God’s will for our lives. We felt the Lord calling us to ministry, but we needed His confirmation. Of course, we prayed a lot. And then we asked for advice from Christian friends, family, and potential co-workers. They helped us determine what path we should follow.

Now, these same people are members of our support group; they still pray for us and help us seek God's will. This is one of the reasons God gave us family and friends -- to support one another!

Success with Godly Advice

God tells us in Proverbs: "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success" (Proverbs 15:22). We knew we couldn't do anything good or well without God's help, guidance, and blessing. And God often uses godly friends and family to speak His guidance into our lives.

Help from Your Friends

When starting out in any spiritual task or mission, it is a blessing to have a group to support you. "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). When life’s troubles get you down, your believing friends can help you get back on track. Their prayers, advice, and encouragement can be God's answer to your prayers for help.

Train Someone to Pray, Care, and Share Jesus

Scripture: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2

Passing it On

In Jesus’ time, there were no printing presses, no television and no internet. God’s chosen method of spreading the Good News was person to person to person.

Jesus Trained His Followers

Jesus’ followers learned mostly by spending time with Him, watching and listening as He taught others. When they were ready, He gave specific instructions and then sent them on a mission: "The Lord now chose 70 other disciples and sent them to all the towns and places He planned to visit" (Luke 10:1).

After His death and resurrection, He again sent out His followers; but this time, He was sending ALL who believed in Him. He said, "As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you" (John 20:21). He was sent to call "those who know they are sinners and need to repent" (Luke 5:32), and "to seek and save those who are lost" (Luke 19:10).

Training to Share Jesus

How we wish we could be with Jesus in person today! Yet He made this stunning claim:

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Believers now have God’s Holy Spirit living within them! God, through His Spirit, speaks to us and teaches us as we read and study His word, the Bible; and guides us in what to say when sharing Jesus with others (Luke 12:11-12).

At its simplest, sharing Christ is just telling others what has happened to us, as the man healed from blindness did in John 9:25: “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Be An Encourager

Scripture: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

Have you ever heard the term "a pat on the back"? When someone does something well, people might congratulate them by patting their back or shoulder. Some people like receiving high-fives, handshakes, or hugs in response to a job well done.

Showing Appreciation

When you do something well, how do people let you know? And how does that make you feel? When someone indicates appreciation for my work -- or even my effort toward a task -- it makes me feel good. It encourages me to continue to work hard and to do my best.

How do you show someone that you appreciate what they have done? And how do they respond? When you show appreciation, you motivate people to continue in the work they need to do -- including the work God has given them.

Encourage Each Other

The Bible instructs us to encourage each other in the Lord's work: "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them" (Ephesians 4:29). It tells believers to "encourage each other and build each other up" (I Thessalonians 5:11). Showing appreciation to others can strengthen and encourage them to walk in God's ways.

Witness to Others

Encouraging and showing appreciation to those around us is also a testimony to non-believers. Jesus said, "let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:16). Those who see the love and encouragement among the Christian community can be inspired to follow the Lord and become part of His family. Christians should always obey God's instructions so that "[unbelieving neighbors] will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God" (I Peter 2:12).

The Secret for Success in the New Year

As 2013 winds down, are you making New Year's Resolutions? One of mine is to turn my life completely over to God and stop worrying about the future and having a successful life. Matthew 6:25-29 is encouraging on this issue! “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Showing Appreciation

Scripture: One of the lepers, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. – Luke 17:15

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In Jesus’ time, leprosy was much worse than a skin disease – those who suffered from it were considered “unclean” and thus lost their jobs, families and friends.

I’m sure all ten of the men whom Jesus healed of leprosy (Luke 17:11-19) FELT extremely grateful. Yet only one came back to Jesus and verbally thanked him. The Lord commended this man’s act of grateful appreciation, which was recorded for all of history.

Our condition before coming to know Jesus was much worse than leprosy! We were considered unclean by God (whose opinion is the only one that matters); we had lost our relationship with Him; and we were doomed to eternal suffering and punishment. To put it another way, we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1).

Yet through God’s great mercy, we have been “made alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5). Because of what Jesus did on the cross, our many sins have been forgiven, we are restored to right standing with God, and we will live forever in joyful fellowship with Him and His children. How much more should we thank Him every day for these and a hundred other blessings!

Giving thanks regularly is not only a command--it is good for us! Numerous studies, even by non-believers, clearly show that people who express gratitude as a way of life are more happy and emotionally healthy.