All tagged giving

Prayer, Faith, and Giving

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Missions Giving

It takes money to finance missionary work, so many church leaders dedicate a week or two each year to discussing and educating their congregations on this endeavor, and to ask them to give. However, before they go about doing this they would be better served if they would ask themselves a couple of very basic questions. The first is this: which comes first, money or prayer, and the second is whether missions increases a church’s faith, or whether strengthened faith increases a desire to support missions? This is the subject of our study today. I read Paul's words in Philippians 4 in which he was thanking the church for its gifts to him as he traveled and spread the gospel. He made it clear that God supplies the church, and the missionary’s needs through the faithful, and that it isn’t the faithful who make these efforts possible for God. “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches”.

Humility, or Denying God His glory in Our Life?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Denying God’s Glory

God works in us each and every day. He brings us to the doorstep of His will, and then perfects us as our efforts join with His in accomplishing it. However, none of this achievement is possible without His efforts in us, and none is possible by our own doing. So when His will is done, in some manner, how should we respond to others when they acknowledge it in gratitude or amazement?

The Blessings in Giving and Service

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Giving and Service

Have you ever received manna from heaven? Maybe you haven’t been the recipient of this heavenly food specifically, but has some form of spiritual or supernatural rescue or provision been provided for you? How about a call from God to be that answer, or help, to someone else’s need or prayer? When God uses us in this way we suddenly realize the immenseness of the blessing that comes from being in His service.

Jesus Wash My Feet

Richard Forbes
Servitude

Are we prepared to do the Father's bidding? I am not talking about the things you consider to be the grand tasks of heaven, but rather the trivial and menial jobs. Those that lesser acts that occur every day as we live out our lives; the ones that humble us and define us in the world’s eyes as the least of all the servants.

Giving, Thanking, and Glorifying God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Giving and Thanking

Are we stingy with what God has given us? Do we hold back gifts from those in need, and forget that all we possess is from God? We are to be good stewards of what we have been given, but that doesn’t mean that we are to selfishly horde it, or bury it in the ground as in the parable of the talents. We are to glorify God by giving thanks to Him for His provision, but we should be multiplying our thanks by giving as He directs us, to others so that they too will glorify Him by their thanks.

Can we give up everything for Jesus?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Selling All

We would go hungry to feed our children, or thirsty to quench a dying friend’s thirst, but what are we willing to do without for the sake of Jesus Christ, or our Heavenly Father? What degree of discomfort would we be willing to face? Moses led the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, but would we walk a few short miles to church? Abraham was willing to place Isaac on the altar as a sacrifice, but are we willing to give our favorite suit of clothes to charity if the Lord asked this of us? Paul risked his eternal soul when he abandoned a life dedicated to following the law, and followed Jesus instead, so let’s ask ourselves what we would be willing to risk, give up, or what hardship we would endure for our faith.

Sharing from our Hearts

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional ,

As Christians we believe in God, and have faith in Jesus Christ His Son. We also work at behaving as Jesus did in our own lives, we love our neighbors, feed the hungry, visit the sick, and many other things that we have learned through the study of the gospels, but there might be one lesson that is particularly hard for us… sharing what we have. As hard as this might be for some of us to do it is something that is pleasing to God. When the occasion presents itself to do good, do we also share what we have been given.

One God, and a Magnificent Stairway to Heaven.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Selling All We Have

What do we do when we are asked to give up the one thing in life that we value most? Do we find that we want it more than God, or Jesus? When we look at the story of the young rich man we realize that he followed the law, and that Jesus loved him, yet we also see that what this man wanted most from Jesus was actually just another possession… he wanted to possess eternal life.

Cheerfully Giving God’s Bounty

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Gifts, Sins, Peacemakers , Finding God, Separate, Giving

When we give, whether it be tithes, gifts, or to sustain another, the act of giving in love increases the worth of what we have given. On the other hand, when we receive a gift from someone, we shouldn’t revel in what it has done in our lives, but for the fruit it produces in the life of the giver. In this way, we might help someone in need, or benefit the church with our offering, but the real value comes in how it increases our own faith, and the spiritual warmth we realize from this simple act, because we are giving God’s bounty… not ours.

Lending to God in Mercy and Grace

Richard Forbes
Christian , Degree, Daily Devotional , Lending to God

We spend a great deal of our prayer time asking God to do things for us, and the bulk of the remainder in thanking Him for what He has already done. Then, we go about our day, and dedicate most of our waking hours to fending for ourselves by working, or following other worldly pursuits. So, today let’s ask ourselves if there is anything that we can possibly give to God, the creator of all things, and look for ways we can give something, anything, to Him... just as He has so often given to us.

Glorifying God through our Giving and Obedience

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , Glorifying God

When we are in trouble do we call on God to save us out of desperation, or do we ask for His help so that through His provision, and salvation, we might glorify Him? God’s rescue is not done solely for our benefit, but also to reveal His majesty. When we give to those in need how does it make us feel? The goodness and warmth we experience is only a reflection of what God feels when He answers us in our times of need.

Level is the Field of Faith.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Giving , Sacrificing

We desire to be men and women of faith, but are we actually focused on our wealth and means instead? Do we open our eyes in the morning and call out to a servant “Bring me my coffee and bread”? Do we sit down with a newspaper and begin our day by studying the world, and how we will increase our earthly treasure? O brothers and sisters, if we were more like the poor who open their eyes and say “Thank you Father for this day”, and “Lord, how might I serve you better?” In considering this, do we find that we worship mammon over God, or at very least do we pursue our wealth on an even plane with God?

Living Our Hidden Lives of Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Hidden Lives

Do you feel that your faith is insignificant, and that what you do day after day is of little consequence? Is your prayer life a quiet one, and unknown to anyone except for you, and God Himself? Are the good things you do for others done in secret, and go seemingly unnoticed? If this is true then you are a saint whose faith is known by God, precious in His eyes, and He is holding you close.