Generous God, Generous People

Reading : Proverbs 11:24-28 ‘One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.’ v24 24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;     another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper;     whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 26 People curse the one who hoards grain,     but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. 27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,     but evil comes to one who searches for it. 28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,     but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. This could be our theme throughout the next few weeks. It seems that the more we give, the more we are blessed and our needs are met. That is not why we give but it seems to be the consequence of our response to God. The writer here reflects on what happens when people give freely, they seem to be richer. Our bank balance...

Reading : Haggai 1:1-11 ‘You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it’ v6 1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest: 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’” 3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the...

Reading : Romans 11:33-12:8 ‘offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.’ v12:1 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!     How unsearchable his judgments,     and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord?     Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God,     that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things.     To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do...

Reading : Isaiah 55:6-11 ‘“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my  ways,” declares the Lord.’ v8 Seek the Lord while he may be found;     call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways     and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,     and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,     neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways     and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow     come down from heaven, and do not return to it     without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,     so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:     It will not return to me emp...

Reading: Psalm 34:1-22 ‘those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.’ v10 I will extol the Lord at all times;     his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord;     let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me;     let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me;     he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant;     their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;     he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,     and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good;     blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people,     for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry,     but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my childre...

Reading : 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 ‘for everything in heaven and earth is yours.’ v11 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord,     the God of our father Israel,     from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power     and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,     for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;     you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you;     you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power     to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks,     and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as we...

Reading : Matthew 6:25-34 ‘your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.’ v32 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and ...