DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS:

MONDAY - VERSES: Give is used in 811 verses. Ecclesiastes 3:13; Luke 11:5-13; James 1:17; Romans 8:31-32 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for all that He has given you, but don't be generic mention specific things. Ask Him to help you pass blessings on to others.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Giveth is found in 119 verses. 2 Chronicles 32:21-23; 1 Corinthians 4:7; Genesis 45:17-23 PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank God for all the people that have given you blessings and thank Him for the blessings that He sent through them.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Given is in 480 verses. Gave is in 436. Esther 9:20-22; Matthew 19:21-22; Luke 19:8 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to help you look for opportunities to help by giving to others.

THURSDAY - VERSES: Giving is used in 29 verses. 1 Peter 4:8-11; Proverbs 19:6; Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 13:3 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to help you have wisdom in your giving so that it will do the most good for Him and His kingdom.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Gift is in 52 verses. Proverbs 3:27-28; 11:24-26; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Luke 12:15-21 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to forgive you for the times when you should have given, but didn't. Ask Him for strength to avoid that weakness in the future.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Gifts is found in another 52 verses. Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 9:5-11 PRAYER THOUGHT: Ask God to help you be a gracious receiver as well as a cheerful giver so that all involved will be blessed.

eeeeeeeeeeeeee

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. - William Arthur Ward

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. -

Robert Louis Stevenson

eeeeeeeeeeeeee

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Daily read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Place the scripture where you will see it often each day.

3. Think of areas where you have given in some way to others.

4. Write down the ways you have given of your time, money, energy.

5. Plan to tell the class how you or someone else has given unselfishly, or tell how you have failed to take advantage of an opportunity to give.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 23

GENEROSITY - 12-23-12 to 12-29-12

SCRIPTURE - Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

COMMENT - Jesus promised that if we are willing to give to help others we will be blessed with abundance. God's blessings to us are determined by our blessings to others.

SONG – THERE IS A SEA

1. There is a sea which day by day Receives the rippling rills, And streams that spring from wells of God, Or fall from cedared hills;

But what it thus receives it gives With glad unsparing hand: A stream more wide, with deeper tide, Flows on to lower land.

2. There is a sea which day by day Receives a fuller tide; But all its store it keeps, nor gives To shore nor sea beside; It's Jordan stream, now turned to brine, Lies heavy as molten lead; Its dreadful name doth ever proclaim That sea is waste and dead.

3. Which shall it be for you and me, Who God's good gifts obtain?

Shall we accept for self alone, Or take to give a gain? For He who once was rich in deed Laid all His glory down; That by His grace, our ransomed race Should share His wealth and crown.

THOUGHTS

Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can!

eeeeeeeeeeeeee
Many years ago two young men were working their way through Stanford University. At one point their money was almost gone, so they decided to engage the great pianist Paderewski for a concert and use the profits for board and tuition. Paderewski's manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000. The students worked hard to promote the concert, but they came up $400 short. After the performance, they went to the musician, gave him all the money they had raised, and promised to pay the $400 as soon as they could. It appeared that their college days were over. "No, boys, that won't do," said the pianist. "take out of this $1,600 all your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest."

Years passed. Paderewski became premier of Poland following World War I. Thousands of his countrymen were starving. Only one man could help, the head of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. Paderewski's appeal to him brought thousands of tons of food. Later he met the American statesman to thank him. "That's all right," replied Herbert Hoover. "Besides, you don't remember, but you helped me once when I was a student in college."

eeeeeeeeeeeeee
Years ago, Dr. Karl Menninger of the Menninger Clinic was asked, "If someone felt a nervous breakdown coming on, what would you suggest that he do?"

"If you feel a nervous breakdown coming on, I would urge you to find somebody else with a problem -- a serious one -- and get involved with that individual, helping him solve his problem." In helping him to solve his problem, then in reality your own problem is going to disappear. You're no longer thinking internally. You're no longer letting things gnaw at your stomach. You're no longer getting disturbed about yourself because you're not thinking about yourself. You're thinking about others. I don't know what your objective in life might be, but there is something each one of us can do.

eeeeeeeeeeeeee
If you give to charity while you are poor, you will eventually give in days of wealth. If you do not give while you are rich, you will eventually abstain from giving because of poverty. God has willed that there be two hands in the matter of charity -- one that gives and one that receives. Thank God that yours is the hand that gives. Say not, "I will miss what I give." Be like the sheep who give their wool and have no less the next year because they have given.

eeeeeeeeeeeeee
The Jews had a famous story about a certain King Monobaz of Adiabene who became a convert to Judaism. "Monobaz distributed all his treasures to the poor in the year of famine. His brothers sent to him and said, 'Thy fathers gathered treasures, and added to those of their fathers, but thou hast dispersed yours and theirs.' He said to them, 'My fathers gathered treasures for below, I have gathered treasures for above; they stored treasures in a place over which the hand of man can rule, but I have stored treasures in a place over which the hand of man cannot rule; my fathers collected treasures which bear no interest, I have gathered treasures which bear interest; my fathers gathered treasures of money, I have gathered treasures in souls; my fathers gathered treasures for others, I have gathered treasures for myself; my fathers gathered treasures in this world, I have gathered treasures for the world to come.'"

Both Jesus and the Jewish Rabbis were sure that what is selfishly hoarded is lost, but that what is generously given away brings treasure in heaven.

eeeeeeeeeeeeee
Giving with glad and generous hearts has a way of routing out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon greed. - Richard J. Foster, Money, Sex & Power

eeeeeeeeeeeeee

GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU - LUKE 6:38

GIVING IS. . .

I. SHARING WITH OTHERS - 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19

II. DOING GOOD AND SHOWING CONCERN - GALATIANS 6:10

III. DOING GOOD WITHOUT PRAISE OF MEN - MATT. 6:1-4

IV. NOT DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU HAVE BUT WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT AFTER GIVING - 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-5

V. A WAY TO LAY UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN - LUKE 12:33

GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

SCRIPTURE - (Luke 6:38) "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

INTRODUCTION

A. SAME MEASURE(Luke 6:38) "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

B. REAP AS SOW (2 Cor 9:6-11) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. {7} So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. {8} And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. {9} As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." {10} Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, {11} while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

C. GOD WILL MULTIPLY THE SEED WE HAVE SOWN - (2 Cor 9:7-10) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. {8} And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. {9} As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." {10} Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

I. GIVING IS SHARING WITH OTHERS

A. EQUALITY (2 Cor 8:13-15) For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; {14} but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack; that there may be equality. {15} As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

B. SHARE (1 Tim 6:17-19) Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. {18} Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, {19} storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

C. SACRIFICIAL SHARING (Heb 13:16) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

D. GIVE/LOAN (Mat 5:42) "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

II. GIVING IS DOING GOOD AND SHOWING CONCERN

A. DO GOOD TO ALL (Gal 6:10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

B. CONCERN FOR OTHERS (Phil 2:3-4) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. {4} Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

C. SEEK OTHER'S WELL BEING (1 Cor 10:24) Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

D. MEETING NEEDS (Rom 12:13) distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

E. ELIMINATES LOVE SELF/MONEY (2 Tim 3:2) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

III. GIVING IS DOING GOOD WITHOUT PRAISE OF MEN - (Mat 6:1-4) "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. {2} "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {3} "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, {4} "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

IV. GIVING IS NOT DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU HAVE BUT WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT AFTER GIVING

A. LIBERAL IN POVERTY (2 Cor 8:1-5) Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: {2} that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. {3} For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, {4} imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. {5} And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

B. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GIVE BUT HOW MUCH YOU SACRIFICE THAT MATTERS

1. (2 Sam 24:24) Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2. (Mark 12:42-44) Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. {43} So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; {44} "for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

C. Young boy asked Santa for 2 trucks, 2 teddy bears, 2 video games, 2 remote control cars. Santa asked why he wanted 2 of everything and the boy said, "so I can share." Is that the way we think? "if I had more than I could use, I would give more!"

V. GIVING IS A WAY OF LAYING UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN

A. TREASURE ON EARTH (Mat 6:19) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

B. TREASURE IN HEAVEN (Luke 12:33) "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

C. RICHES KEPT HURT (Eccl 5:13) There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

CONCLUSION

A. IS GOD MULTIPLYING YOUR MONEY SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE EVEN MORE TO GIVE.

B. IF NOT, IT MAY BE THAT YOU ARE SELFISHLY USING YOUR MONEY ON YOUR OWN DESIRES - (James 4:3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

C. GOD HAS PROMISED, IF WE GIVE MUCH WILL BE GIVEN TO US.

D. IF YOU GIVE GOD YOUR LIFE, HE WILL SEE THAT YOU HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE - (John 10:10) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."