After the Fast, What Next? Give and Be Generous

AFTER THE FAST, WHAT NEXT? GIVE AND BE GENEROUS

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Who among us can out give God? Who among us can do what Abraham did for God to swear by Himself when he said in Genesis 22:16–18 (ESV) “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice”.

Many of us keep struggling financially because we see God’s hand to be too short to blesses us back when we give. Sometimes I ask myself, why do churches engage in auctioning during harvest or day-born group offerings on specific periods just to raise funds for projects in God’s house. We make Pastors and Priests suffer by begging us to give just for projects in God’s house. Interesting enough when we see others give and are being blessed by the Pastors or Priest we become jealous and begin to talk behind them. “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29).

In Acts 2:45 (NIV), we read that “They (believers) sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need”. And because they did this, God’s grace was so powerful at work in them all and there was no needy person among them (Acts 4:34). May God touch of hearts to be generous towards our family members, the church, and the needy in society.

Again, in Isaiah 58:3, the people ask God “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?” God respond to them in verse 7, “Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.  Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help”. Have you ever experienced that anytime the Spirit of God prompts you to give or support someone and you don’t you turn to lose the money or spend it unwisely? Well, I have experienced that several times and sometimes I ask myself where did the money go.

A Pastor friend once shared with them that he was prompted by the Spirit of God to donate their flat screen television to another Pastor friend who needed it badly for ministry work. He said “when I told my wife about it she said no way, she also has to hear from God first”. My friend said he never spoke about it again until two weeks later when there was a heavy storm, and thunder struck the TV down. He said when they took it to the repairer, they noticed every component in it was burnt beyond repair. Psalm 62:10–12 (NKJV) tells us “If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work”.

Shalom.