Scrooge and lose

There is an old American proverb that states: “It is easy for a stingy man to get rich – but what is the use?”

I believe that we should live life to its fullest and totally enjoy whatever blessings God bestows upon us personally; however in order to pull that off, we must be generous to others too.

Worried about the return on your investment? The Bible teaches that you cannot out give God. Blessings are plentiful to those who are willing to obey God’s command to tithe and also to share a portion of what God has given us with others who are less fortunate by givng gifts over and above our tithes.

It is a wonderful feeling to help others, and I cannot think of many things that I consider more rewarding than helping someone.

If you simply cannot afford it financially, perhaps you could read to someone who is in the hospital, or volunteer your time to some worthwhile organization that you admire. We are accountable for using a portion of what we have been given to help others, be it finance, or talent, or both, and to further God’s work.

We have been commanded to do this by a God who wants us to love each other. He doesn’t want us to give merely because of his commandments however; He wants us to emulate Him in a spirit of love and to do it because it is the “right” thing to do.

I will offer one word of caution. I am deluged for requests for contributions almost on a daily basis and have found that I must be careful when making them. All causes are not equal and some recipients have squandered what I did give and it broke my heart because I could have given that money to an entity that desperately needed help and would have spent it wisely for the cause for which it was intended.

Take it from someone who has already been burned, when you generously give your hard earned money or talent, make sure that you retain enough control of it to ensure that it will be spent wisely on the exact cause for which it was designated…

Remember that we are stewards of assets that ultimatley belong to God, and we will be held accountable. Jesus told the parable of the three men who were each given money. The two who invested it responsibly were given more; the one who squandered it had his taken away from him.
—————————————

Luke 12:48
…For everyone to whom much is given,
from him much will be required.

2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he
purposes in his heart, and not grudgingly
or of necessity;
for God loves a cheerful giver.