the godly are generous

Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!

The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

The book of Job in the Old Testament is a very interesting book. I've heard the story forever, yet there were a few things that stick out in my mind. God said that Job was blameless and righteous. In Job's troubles when Satan was inflicting and testing him, Job never stepped away from God. He hurt and was angry but never with God.

It is not a question at all if Job was a godly man. He was. I love the parts of the story where Job interceded for his children. His desire was for their blessing and for the to be right with God.

That took me back to a verse that I quoted earlier this week. It says in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek God's righteousness that God will bless us with what we need. That is a fact. Take it to the bank. When people love God, they will be seen a Godly people, but these people will also be givers and generous. Is that true of you and me?

The Godly give from a heart for God. Others give out of guilt or need to feel good. God honors holiness and Godliness. Holiness produces a generous, giving heart.

My prayer is that the Lord would make us more like Jesus, would make us Godly, and that we would give in a way that really lifts up Jesus. When we get closer to God and look more like Jesus we will be Godly, and we will be people known for their generosity.

Jesus illustrated this while sitting at the temple with the disciples and those people closet to Him. Some people came in and gave large sums of money. Others couldn't give a lot, but like this wisdom, they gave what they could.

Luke 21:2-4 NLT

Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."

I'm not looking for people to join me in ministry who can give lots and lots of money (though that would be nice). I am looking for people who are willing to simply be godly and do what God asks. Godly people are generous givers!

NOTE: much of this post was originally shared in August of 2011

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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