Fri. April 5th. 2024.
“Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.” Prov. 23:6-8.
A very wealthy man in the community was not known for his generosity to the church. The church was involved in a big financial program, so the fund-raising committee decided it had to pay him a visit. While in the meeting, the committee members said that in view of his considerable resources, they were sure he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program. “I see,” he said, “so you have it all figured out have you? In the course of your investigation did you discover I have a widowed mother who has no other means of support but me?”
No, they responded, they did not know that. “Did you know I have a sister who was left by a drunken husband with five children and no means to provide for them?” No, they said, we did not know that either. He continued, “Did you also know that I have a brother who is crippled due to an automobile accident and can never work another day to support his wife and family?” Embarrassingly, they responded; “No, Sir; we did not know that either.” “Well,” he thundered triumphantly, “I’ve never given any of them a cent, so why should I give anything to you?”
Listen to me, people don’t give because they have, or because they don’t have needs to meet. They give because they have overcome greed and selfishness. We are admonished in scriptures to be cheerful givers, not because we don’t have needs but because God can meet with our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. We must quit being tied to all the Lord has given us, so that we don’t become bad stewards of His resources in our hands. There is nothing we brought into this world, we will take nothing out of it. May God find us as partners with him. May His resources in our hands be used to his glory in Jesus name. God bless you.
We are called to grow what He has given us.
FURTHER READING:
“The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.” Prov. 28:22.
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2Cor. 9:7
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, I thank You for another day. I take charge of today by my words, I speak into the atmosphere, I speak possibility into my life, I speak life and peace. I speak health and wholeness into every faculty of my being. I pronounce prosperity and increase into every fabric of my existence. I ask that grace be poured on my lips and my head. May all that concerns me be perfected because I am connected to the most high God in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
2 Chron. 15:1-19.
2 Chron. 16:1-14.
2 Chron. 17:1-19.
2 Chron. 18 :1-34.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“A Stingy Man Will Rather Sting You Than Give You.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria.
email: info@thefortresschurch.com.
