Count off seven weeks from when you first begin to cut the grain at the time of harvest. Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor the LORD your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him. This is a time to celebrate before the LORD your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, so be careful to obey all these decrees. (Deuteronomy 16: 9-12 NLT)
The people were to bring a voluntary offering in proportion to the blessings they had received from God.
They were to question themselves and ask, “Had they received much or little?”. Then they were to give.
Perhaps the New Testament equivalent would be this Scripture:
“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.”
(2 Corinthians 9: 7 NLT).
I cannot help but wonder if there is a direct correlation between our giving and our awareness of how blessed we truly are as a people.
Remembering … who they once were, where they had come from and seeing who they had become, then produced in them hearts that were willing to give.
And so this morning, I find myself asking these two questions:
- How much do I perceive myself as “blessed”?
- Does that perception reflect in my giving?
What becomes crucial is not the amount but the attitude in which we give.
God, who knows and appraises our hearts, values only those gifts that come as a free expression of the deepest part of our souls. (New American Commentary, Vol. 29, page 406)
Another look at 2 Corinthians 9:7 opened my eyes to the reason the Lord loves those who give cheerfully. God Himself gives to us, willingly and abundantly. He Himself is a cheerful giver.
We may never look more like our Father than when
we give cheerfully, willingly, and generously.
Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Grace Moments and #ChasingCommunity and Heart Encouragement Thursday and Tune In Thursday .
Isn’t it sad that so often those of us who are blessed beyond measure complain more than those who have nothing??
Generosity, thanksgiving, praise — these are antidotes, I think, to the plague of our unappreciated affluence.
Oh for sure, Michele. And the funny part is that as we give more, we come to see even more so, how much we have been given! We just cannot outgive our God.
Ooh, the best lessons are the one that sting a little, aren’t they? Thanks for the reminder to re-evaluate — and to give generously — b/c He’s sure been generous to me. — Beautiful last line: “We may never look more like our Father than when
we give cheerfully, willingly, and generously.” Amen. Good word, Joanne, thanks for sharing. ((xoxo))
It’s interesting to think that our God is not asking us to give more than He has already given. May we be generous and cheerful about it, just like our Father. I so appreciate your encouraging linkup each week!
So true- when we stop and consider how much we are blessed that should lead to gratitude and a willingness to give and bless others. It’s too easy to take things for granted sometimes.
You might have just hit it on the head, Lesley. We must stop and consider how much we have been blessed. Maybe we don’t stop often enough.
Joanne, these are really important questions to consider: How much do I perceive myself as “blessed”? Does that perception reflect in my giving? God’s generosity is astounding, and yet, it’s all too easy to focus on what we don’t have rather than how blessed we truly are.
It’s true, Ginger. And yet, the more we focus on our perceived lack, we overlook the blessing. It’s been good to think on this week.
Joanne,
That was an inspiring post. Since I am just getting back from a missions trip to Guatemala I have such an awareness of how blessed I am. I don’t want to lose this understanding. I’ve made a decision that I am going to go on more missions trips, more frequently. It was seven years since my last one and I realize how that understanding can fade away. Praying you continue to share your gift of writing with others and that your reach is increased for His glory.
I linked up yesterday and didn’t have time to post a comment.
Be Blessed & Refreshed!
~Sherry Stah
xoxo
I so appreciate your thoughts, Sherry. May we not lose sight of our blessing and give all that we can, whether it is our efforts, our time, or our funds. We all can give. Thank you for the encouragement tonight.
Joanne,
All I have to do is look to the children in Pakistan that we minister to and I realize just how blessed I am. It amazes me that they can ever be happy or content in their circumstances. It just goes to remind me that “stuff” can’t make you happy – only the joy of the Lord can.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Amen!It is amazing the joy which is on the faces of those we serve even in the midst of their lack and difficulties. May we be willing to live with our hands open – open to give and open to the joy He gives. xo
Joanne- This is so great! I love this, and I have not thought about it in this way before. I love the thought process and correlation you make between the Old Testament and New Testament.
thanks for linking up with #TuneInThursday this week. Sorry for my delay in stopping by, it has been a busy week 🙂