Day 10 UNLEASHED FOR MISSION! Practice Radical Generosity

Day 10 UNLEASHED FOR MISSION! Practice Radical Generosity

NO ONE WILL EVER BE POOR BY BEING GENEROUS

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭27‬

“He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.”

The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. This spirit finds its highest manifestation in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross...The cross of Calvary should appeal to the benevolence of every follower of the Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give... On the other hand, the spirit of selfishness is the spirit of Satan. The principle illustrated in the lives of worldlings is to get, get. Thus they hope to secure happiness and ease, but the fruit of their sowing is misery and death. – {Acts of the Apostles p. 339}

1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed more powerful than that which is made manifest in works of mercy to those who need our sympathy and aid. This is the truth as it is in Jesus. When those who profess the name of Christ shall practice the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 137)

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬-‭37‬

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

This liberality on the part of the believers was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit. The converts to the gospel were “of one heart and of one soul.” One common interest controlled them—the success of the mission entrusted to them; and covetousness had no place in their lives. Their love for their brethren and the cause they had espoused, was greater than their love of money and possessions. Their works testified that they accounted the souls of men of higher value than earthly wealth. (The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 70, 71)

THIS LIBERALITY WAS NOT FORCED BUT WAS VOLUNTARY PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭7‬

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

God does not compel men to give. All that they give must be voluntary. He will not have His treasury replenished with unwilling offerings. – {Counsels on Stewardship p. 69.2}

WE SHOULD NOT PRESSURE PEOPLE TO GIVE BEYOND THEIR CAPACITY. THEY ARE TO GIVE CONSTRAINED BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭14‬

Thus it will ever be when the Spirit of God takes possession of the life. Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ, will follow the example of Him who for our sake became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. Money, time, influence—all the gifts they have received from God's hand, they will value only as a means of advancing the work of the gospel. (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 71)

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”