Tag: generosity

We Must Bear Fruit to the Father’s Glory

We Must Bear Fruit to the Father’s Glory

How does a Christian bear fruit?  If, as believers, we pursue goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, we will be fruitful no matter where we are called.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  (Joh 15:8 NIV)

 I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God.  (Phil 1:11 CEB)

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.  (Joh 15:5 ISV)

When we bear fruit, we bring glory to God the Father, and we prove ourselves to be the Lord’s followers.  The key to fruitfulness is abiding in Christ and being aware, moment by moment, of His presence and His love at work in our lives.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  (Gal 5:22-23)  Every GOOD tree bears GOOD fruit.  (Mt 7:17)  Each and every believer is a good tree, and every believer has been given the fruit of the Spirit.

The Lord tells us clearly in John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” 

We must abide in Christ always, because without Him, we are powerless and can accomplish nothing.  But with Him, nothing is impossible!  Hallelujah!

Generosity Pleases God

<strong>Generosity Pleases God</strong>

Generosity teaches us to trust in God.  When we are generous to others, we demonstrate the fact that we trust in God as our source and our Provider.  We also follow the example of Jesus, who was generous with everything that He had.

You shall supply him liberally out of your flock, out of your floor, and out of your winepress. From that with which the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.  (Deu 15:14 MEV)

From the good gifts with which the Lord has blessed us, giving to others is one of the numerous ways that we can give back to the Lord. 

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.  (Pro 22:9 ESV)

When we give an offering to the poor, or when we give a donation to a ministry that helps the poor, then we are promised by God that we will be blessed. 

In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’”  (Ac 20:35          AMP)

The Lord says in His Word that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  This is another fine testimony in favor of generosity.

 If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully.  (Rom 12:8 CEV)

Here again, the Bible teaches us that ‘if we can give,’ our giving should be generous (substantial, lavish, plentiful, big-hearted).

Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  (2 Cor 9:7 ASV)

The above Bible verse reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver!  What more do we need to know? 

When we release our tight hold upon the things of this world, we instantly free ourselves from every kind of bondage and trap.  As we look to the Lord—our Savior and Redeemer—as our Provider, He will prove Himself to be more than generous to us.  For has the Bible not said: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  (Phil 4:19 ESV) Praise the Lord!

Be Generous

Be Generous

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  (Lk 6:35 NIV, underscoring added)

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.  (Pro 19:17 ESV, underscoring added)

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.  (Ps 112:5 ESV, underscoring added)

Justice means fair play, impartiality, objectivity or neutrality.  The Scripture verse shown above (Ps 112:5) talks about a person who deals generously, lends to others, and conducts his affairs with justice.  All of these character traits are traits of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our example.  (See Phil 2:5; 1 Pet 2:21)

The Lord challenges us to test Him with our generosity just so that we will learn that we cannot out-give God!  (Mal 3:10-12)  It is the only area in which the Lord has instructed us to test Him.  Just ponder that for a little while . . .

The Lord demonstrated His love for mankind by GIVING His only begotten Son to become our Savior.  That was sacrificial love and sacrificial giving on God’s part, and anyone who is a parent understands that completely.

The focus of this article is about the call to believers to be generous—to live a generous lifestyle.  And it’s crucial for us to understand that God the Father gave generously, and Jesus Christ gave generously, also. 

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’  (Ac 20:35)

When we live a generous lifestyle while here on earth, in obedience to our heavenly Father, the Lord sees it and He places treasure in heaven aside for us as a reward.  (Mt 6:19-21)  God is most pleased when we share what we have with others, especially with those who are needy.  (Mt 10:8; Heb 13:16)

Live generously and with joy!  We believers are being transformed daily into the image of Christ, and this is simply one way in which we may cooperate with the Lord in our own transformation.  (See Rom 8:29-30; Phil 2:13; 3:21; Col 3:10; 2 Cor 3:18)  Blessings upon you!

How Much More?

How Much More?

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”  (Lk 11:9-13, emphasis added)

The Lord Jesus is speaking here about the generosity of our heavenly Father, in that He wishes to bless us in many different and varied ways!  Jesus also encourages us, based upon everything that He has said up to this point, to ask the Father to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit!

What I want to ponder today is the heart of the Father who wants us to come to Him when we’re in need of anything at all.  He outlines that:

  • When we ask, whatever we request will be given;
  • After seeking for a specific answer to prayer, we will find (receive) the perfect answer; and
  • That when we knock at a door, that it WILL be opened to us. (This can be a spiritual, figurative, or physical door—a door of access, welcome, or opportunity.)

Then Jesus continues by reiterating that when we ask, we receive; that the one who seeks a blessing or benefit, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will conclusively be opened!  Then our Lord reminds us that when a child asks for bread, fish, or an egg, that any good parent would give their child exactly what they desire.  And if human beings, who were born in sin, are so good and kind and generous to their own children, then how much more good, kind, and generous will our heavenly Father be to us?

In making these simple yet affirming statements, Jesus opens up the entire world of God’s generosity right before our eyes. 

. . . but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.  (Ps 34:10b, underlining added)

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  (Ps 51:12)

. . . no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  (Ps 84:11c, underlining added)

According to God’s own Word, He has a generous Spirit and He withholds NO good thing from us.  What a great basis of faith—to enable us to trust in God’s love, mercy, and generosity.  He has promised that He has given us all that pertains to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him.  (2 Pet 1:3)