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- Oct 26, 2007
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- 11,539
"At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year's harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all your work. Deuteronomy 14:28-29 NLT
Twenty-two billion dollars. That number certainly pleases God.
It’s roughly the amount of money spent by the federal government on the fatherless each year. How that money’s spent is debatable, but there is no debating the fact that generosity toward the fatherless, widows, and foreigners clearly pleases God.
Moses continues this teaching in the net chapter: “Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted….Rather, be openhanded” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8 NIV).
Jesus demonstrated this openhanded, openhearted generosity when He cured Mary, Joanna, Chuza, Susanna, “and many others.” In turn, those women demonstrated the same generosity when they supported Jesus and His disciples “Out of their own means” (Luke 8:2-3 NIV). David wrote about openhanded and openhearted generosity when he said that believers should make their praise more than a last-minute overture: “Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious” (Psalm 66:2 NIV).
The time and rehearsal it takes to “make” His praise glorious confirms the critical importance of a generous life.
Is your life openhanded, openhearted?
Prayer: Lord, lead me to someone who needs my open hand and open heart today.
Twenty-two billion dollars. That number certainly pleases God.
It’s roughly the amount of money spent by the federal government on the fatherless each year. How that money’s spent is debatable, but there is no debating the fact that generosity toward the fatherless, widows, and foreigners clearly pleases God.
Moses continues this teaching in the net chapter: “Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted….Rather, be openhanded” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8 NIV).
Jesus demonstrated this openhanded, openhearted generosity when He cured Mary, Joanna, Chuza, Susanna, “and many others.” In turn, those women demonstrated the same generosity when they supported Jesus and His disciples “Out of their own means” (Luke 8:2-3 NIV). David wrote about openhanded and openhearted generosity when he said that believers should make their praise more than a last-minute overture: “Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious” (Psalm 66:2 NIV).
The time and rehearsal it takes to “make” His praise glorious confirms the critical importance of a generous life.
Is your life openhanded, openhearted?
Prayer: Lord, lead me to someone who needs my open hand and open heart today.
