Giving to the Poor

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,”

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Psalms 37:26  He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Psalms 37:21   The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

Psalms 112:5  It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Psalms 112:9   He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever;

Deuteronomy 15:8  but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.  Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.  You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Job 31:16  “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,  or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it  (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow),  if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,  if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,.

Matthew 5:7   “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Luke 6:35  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Proverbs 20:7   The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 24:33  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Giving is a heart choice and decision.  Giving has two aspects one is obedience and the other is true generosity.  In obedience to God and for His glory and honor we give to those in need.  God opens our eyes to see those around us and puts us on paths for generosity/compassion/mercy to be lived out.  When God shows you a need are you obedient?  Do you start your day with the choice to hear His voice concerning those in need?  Too many times we  are thinking too much about ours selves.  When we dwell on self our heart and ears are closed to God in this matter.  Everything we have has been given to us by God for His purpose not ours.  It is well for us to examine our heart and intents with all that God has given us.  Teach yourself to give, give freely, and be a vessel that honors and glorifies God through generousity.

Model of Good Works

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned,”

” please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart”

Psalms 26:1   Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.  I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

2 Corinthians 1:12  For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Titus 2:7  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Acts 20:33  I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.  You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

2 Kings 20:3  “Now, O LORD, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Proverbs 20:7  The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 29:25   ……but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

What would our lives look like if we showed integrity, dignity, sound speech, or did not covet another money or position, working hard, helped the weak, walked in faithfulness, trusted God fully, and did not waver in our purpose to humbly serve, honor and obey God?  These all are aspects of growing in understanding and knowledge of God and choosing to apply them in our lives.  There has to be commitment, sincerity, and desire that is more than a thought.  It has to be a continually growing heart deep desire.  The confusion in this life-walk is to often the food that fuels our actions and is derived from what our mind takes in.  How much daily time is given to reading God’s word, meditating on it, praying, seeking Him and His purpose, listening to what His word is speaking to your heart, and discerning what is right?  James says if we read it and do not have works aligned with what we have read it is like looking into a mirror and forgetting what you look like.  Our lives should be a reflection of what we have read, God’s leading and our obedience to follow and apply/obey.