Having Your Needs Met Through Giving
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25
The above verse states that the more we give the more we receive, which is opposite of the way of the world. The world view is, ‘the more I focus on me, the more I can gain.’ Satan always does the opposite of God’s ways; he wants us to focus on ourselves, not others, so we miss out in receiving God’s blessings.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). If we truly trust the Lord and his promises, we put the Lord first in our lives and know that he will guide us to attain all of our needs. If we are not careful we can find ourselves preoccupied with trying to provide for our needs and missing the callings the Lord has for us. This can easily take the peace and joy and rest for our souls that the Lord has planned for us.
The first priority for all Christians is to be the Lord’s servants, guided by the Holy Spirit to be an encouraging light for Christ in this world. This means fulfilling the Lord’s will over your own will, and giving priority to the things the Lord has called for you to do. If we are not careful we can justify missing God’s calling because we are busy pursuing our worldly needs.
It takes faith to put God first in all things: arranging our schedules to put him first, living to serve him, pointing lost souls to Christ, and trusting him to provide for our worldly needs. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Does your faith please God, or are you living with a faith that leans on your own understanding?
The Lord always fulfills his promises and he blesses those who trust him and live to serve him. This takes real faith in the Lord, but God’s promises will be fulfilled in our lives if we have this kind of faith. If we put the Lord first in all things and live to serve him, he will take care of our worldly needs through his power and wisdom working through us. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).
Today live to serve the Lord. Be a light for Christ, and put the things of God as first priority. How do you think the Lord feels when we put our desires above his plans for us? Surrender to the Lord’s will, because the more we surrender the freer we are in Christ, and we are no longer held in bondage by things of the world.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to trust you and to give priority of my time to you. Help me to serve you, and trust you to enable me to take care of my worldly needs. In my heart I know that if I live for Christ, you will provide for all my needs. In Jesus name, Amen