Dearly Beloved, HOW GENEROUS ARE YOU? (CAN YOU DO LIKE JOB DID? [Series 4]) "If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless- but from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my birth I guided the widow- if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a garment, and his heart did not bless me for warming him with the fleece from my sheep… if the men of my household have never said, 'Who has not had his fill of Job's meat?'- but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler…” (Job 31:16-32, NIV). In the continuation of his defense Job boasted about his generosity to the needy (verses 16-23). This generosity was extended to the members of his household as well as strangers (verses 31-32). His generosity, as we can see it from those verses, corrects the wrong notion of some people that only money can be given to show the act of generosity. Generous giving involves more than money. It involves all other resources, time and even the life that God has generously giving us. Earlier this year I wrote on giving generously. Let me reproduce part of that write-up here: the New Testament gives explicit instructions about generous giving (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:14-19). The manner of this giving must be in (a) firstly giving of ONESELF (2 Corinthians. 8:5); (b) one that, as much as possible, no other person knows about (Matthew 6:1-4); (c) giving in love (1 Corinthians 13:3); (d) accordance with one’s ability (Acts 11:29); and (e) without grudge (2 Corinthians. 9:5, 7). The measure of the New Testament giving is UNLIMITED – the more you give, the more you receive from God (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6). The tithe is a good place to begin in formulating a program for Christian stewardship. However, it should not stop there. God is ready to bless only those who are giving generously to the needy and the cause of the gospel. Many people have been robbing THEMSELVES of the blessings of God by not giving generously out of their possessions. Job was generous to those that were in needs around him. Are you? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). _________________________ Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.afolabayo.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV). _________________________________________________ FindLaw - Free Case Law, Jobs, Library, Community http://www.FindLaw.com Get your FREE @JUSTICE.COM email! http://mail.Justice.com