It was well past midnight. There were few travelers, and the weather was nearly unbearable with driving rains and freezing temperatures. A woman stood beside her broken-down car, trying to flag down someone going into the city. 

Finally, a motorist stopped and invited the woman, who was soaking wet and trembling with chills, into his car. He took her to a taxi stand, and as she hurriedly exited from his car, she took time to ask him to write down his name and address. 

A week later, he received a giant TV and stereo with a note that read: “Thank you for assisting me. Because of your kindness, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you. Mrs. Nat King Cole.” 

Nearly a thousand years before Jesus was born, Solomon wrote, “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.” In his wisdom, he summarized an essential fact of life for all of us: Life involves risk and opportunity and has no guarantees. 

However, Solomon encouraged us to seize the moment to do good for others. He certainly did not support a stingy, self-centered lifestyle. Even though we do not know what may happen tomorrow, he would urge us to share with others whatever we have “at the moment,” and learn to trust in God for tomorrow.  

We show our love for and trust in God when we give to others. 

Prayer:  Help us, Lord, to realize we have so much we do not deserve. May our hearts be as open to meet the needs of others as much as Your heart is open to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Ecclesiastes 11:1

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It was well past midnight. There were few travelers, and the weather was nearly unbearable with driving rains and freezing temperatures. A woman stood beside her broken-down car, trying to flag down someone going into the city. 

Finally, a motorist stopped and invited the woman, who was soaking wet and trembling with chills, into his car. He took her to a taxi stand, and as she hurriedly exited from his car, she took time to ask him to write down his name and address. 

A week later, he received a giant TV and stereo with a note that read: “Thank you for assisting me. Because of your kindness, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you. Mrs. Nat King Cole.” 

Nearly a thousand years before Jesus was born, Solomon wrote, “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.” In his wisdom, he summarized an essential fact of life for all of us: Life involves risk and opportunity and has no guarantees. 

However, Solomon encouraged us to seize the moment to do good for others. He certainly did not support a stingy, self-centered lifestyle. Even though we do not know what may happen tomorrow, he would urge us to share with others whatever we have “at the moment,” and learn to trust in God for tomorrow.  

We show our love for and trust in God when we give to others. 

Prayer:  Help us, Lord, to realize we have so much we do not deserve. May our hearts be as open to meet the needs of others as much as Your heart is open to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Ecclesiastes 11:1

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We sometimes forget that there are many teachings in the New Testament that come from the Old Testament. “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be heard” is one of those teachings.

Shortly after Jesus began His ministry of teaching and preaching He said, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” However, Jesus did more than preach and teach “The Beatitudes,” He brought them to life by the way He lived. If people were hungry, He fed them. If they were sick, He healed them. If they were blind, He gave them sight. If they were lost, He set them on the right path. If they were in darkness, He shed His light to guide them.

Solomon warns us that if we expect good things from God, we must “not shut our ears to the poor.” Those who are poor and in need are just as important to God as the most wealthy. But the wealthy and those who have more than “the least of these” are obligated to have “open ears” and do something when they hear the cry of the poor. Closed ears and closed hearts cannot expect God to have open ears and an open heart when they cry to Him in times of need.

Persons who are unrighteous and self-centered and care only for themselves do not understand God’s love and mercy and grace. If we love, as God loves, mercy and grace will flow from our hearts - as it does from His - and our ears will be open and our hearts touched and our hands outstretched to bring hope and help to the poor.

One more thought: No matter how “secure” we may think we are with what we have, there is no guarantee that our riches will last forever. We may be forced to cry for His help!

Prayer:  Help us, Father, to have ears that are open, hearts that are tender and hands that are willing to help those in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Many guide their lives by “The Golden Rule” - “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” They do what they do, not from the goodness of their hearts, but what they want or expect from others. It is the old adage: “If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” Their lives become a trading post.

Others give what they give because their goal is to obligate or control people. They cannot give without grumbling. After “presenting” an object, large or small they wait and watch to see if they will receive something appropriate for their “goodness.” If nothing comes, gifts stop.

Some give for recognition. They want to be praised in public places for their contributions or rewarded for being kind or being seen as generous. Some give because they expect to be recognized and blest by God for their gifts.

Giving and doing is good. But is there something more? “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifices.” This proverb makes a profound statement: We can make any number of sacrifices for many different reasons, but if we do not give because we love God, live righteously and treat others with justice, dignity and respect it seems as though giving and doing are less than acceptable in God’s sight.

We must never forget that sacrifice is at the heart of the gospel: God sent His only begotten Son to die for us. But our giving, even sacrificially, must be done for the right reasons. We must realize that “being” is what God wants from us - beginning with “being” born again, followed by being righteous and just.

Giving reflects gratitude. And if we are grateful for our salvation, we will give generously - but for the right reasons.

Prayer:  May we understand, Lord, that our giving reflects our love for You. First our hearts, then our lives and then our things! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

It’s not something we normally think about. But, perhaps it needs to be. Whatever God has entrusted me with must be used to His benefit - not mine. If whatever I have increases in value or worth, it is because He has granted me the increase. If there is any doubt in my mind about this fact, all I have to do is realize how quickly the profits of property or investments can be “wiped out.” Stock markets crash and property can be devalued and there is nothing I can do. They are beyond me - but not God.

Where can we invest our God given “gifts” and be assured of the best returns? Loan them to the poor. No, I have not become an investment counselor. I am simply recommending that we follow the advice of Solomon: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He (not the poor) will reward him for what he has done.” The “wisdom” of Solomon encourages generosity toward those who are “poor” or seemingly lack in God’s blessings. Further, if we care for the poor we are being obedient to the teachings of God.

What we do to the poor we are doing to the Lord. Jesus said that “what you do to the poor you do to me.” Could it be that God is testing our trust in Him by giving to the poor? When we see or hear about the “least of these” and do nothing, is God giving us a “head, heart and hand” test? We have God’s teachings in our heads but they do not honor Him unless we let them flow through our hearts and hands to those who lack in His blessings.

“Kind to the poor” as used here implies that the poor will never be able to repay us for what we do for them on behalf of God. However, it does, without a doubt, imply that we are “lending to the Lord” and it is God - not the poor - who becomes obligated to us for the “return on our investment.” We are in fact lending “it” to Him. And when He makes a promise, we can take it to the bank!

Prayer:  Lord, we “guard” our possessions as though they belong to us. Help us to understand that what we have is actually Yours! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

It was just before noon when Joseph walked into my office. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled. He must have been cold from the driving rain and winter wind.

“I know I look nasty,” he said. “I’ve been sleeping in a barn for the past three nights. There’s no heat and it’s been hard to stay warm. Mind if I sit in your chair over in the corner? It really looks comfortable.”

“This soft drink is all I’ve had for two days. I’m a diabetic and need to eat but I’m drinking this drink as slow as I can until I find someone who can help me. I was thrown out of my home Christmas Day because I couldn’t pay the rent. Do you have any money you can give me? I’ll have some by Friday and can pay you back then.”

Our offices are located on a state highway and many folk like Joseph stop by daily. Cal stopped by Monday. His mother along with his two-month-old daughter, were killed by a drunk driver the day before. He was on his way to Florida to make funeral arrangements before he deployed to Iraq with his Marine unit. He did not ask for anything except prayer. “I saw your Chapel,” he said, “and I knew I could find someone here who could pray for me. That’s really all I need.”

It is difficult to remember a day when no one has stopped by for help. Their stories are compelling and even heart breaking. Occasionally they are untrue. In the end, however, they answer to God for what they do. “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker.”

Prayer:  Help us, Father, to help those who are poor and in need. May we show Your love to those in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

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Thinking “poor” is difficult for most of us. We have so much more than we need that it is difficult to understand what it is like to go without. For many, however, the distance between a healthy meal and pangs of hunger is quite a distance. Many of us have never had to go without a meal much less the essentials of life.
Most of us have invested some “thing” in those who represented themselves as poor only to find out that we have been “tricked.” Some say they will never give again because they were tricked.

There are times when I find myself “guarded” when people come to my office with a need for some “thing.” It might be for money to pay the gas or electric bill, or milk to nourish a baby or money for a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. Often when I find myself questioning their motives I ask myself: “Who am I to be their judge?”

Later on in Proverbs we will come across a verse that says, “For God made both the rich and the poor.” So, my response to those in need is an indication of how I would respond to Jesus Himself if He came to me with a need.

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus said, “What you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did it unto me.” If we fail to respond with compassion to those in need how can we expect God to hear us when we have needs?

When we see someone in need let us never forget that God brought that one into our lives to help them. It’s not our choice. It’s our obligation to do whatever we can.

Prayer:  Lord, give us hearts that are sensitive to the needs of others. May we bless their lives as You have ours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

A lady said to a beggar, “Here’s a quarter. You don’t deserve it, but it will make me happy to give it to you!”

“Thanks, ma’am,” he said. “Why not make it few dollars and really enjoy yourself?”

Giving is an important theme in the Bible. It begins in the heart of God. We read about the abundant gifts He gave His people. It continues in the work of Jesus as He went about healing the sick and feeding the hungry. We see His supreme gift when He gave His life on the cross: the gift of love, life and eternity with Him. The gifts of God and His Son are priceless – life giving and life sustaining.

Paul reminds us that we are not to “give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
The Lord has given us two hands: one for receiving and one for giving. The question is not “What can I spare?” but, “What can I share?”

Prayer: Father, without Your love, grace and mercy, we would have nothing. Often we focus on what we have rather than what You have given us. May we realize that we receive to give. When we give, we show Your love: in Christ’s Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Whenever the thought of “sacrificial giving” enters our minds, it’s only natural to think that “there’s nothing left for us.” While that may be true in some instances, it is not true when we give sacrificially to God.
Prayer:  Lord, a “God of tomorrow” is of no help today. Give us a “trusting” faith that will free us from ourselves. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Many, when giving anything to God, are resentful, even outraged. “I earned it, it’s mine - so I deserve all of it and can use it anyway I choose.” And the decision on what to do with it is our choice.

But, between the process of working and receiving the rewards from our efforts is God’s goodness. Think for a moment about thinking. It surely is a gift from God. And so are strength, energy, vision, reflexes, hearing, breath, balance and coordination. All this, and much, much more are God’s gifts to us.
Someone once said to me, “Larry, your ability to do anything is God’s gift to you. What you do with them is your gift back to God.”

Initially, I thought, “That’s rather cute and novel.” But, the more I thought about it, the more it troubled me. If that’s true, and for those of us who recognize God as the Lord of our lives know that it is, we are forced to admit that we’d have absolutely nothing without His grace.

Part of “wisdom” is knowing what to do with what God gives us. So, Solomon made no apologies when he wrote, “Honor the Lord with your wealth.” Seems simple if we run over the word “honor” and say, “Here’s a tip, God. I want You to know I’m honoring You.” However, it does not work that way.

“Honor” means making a sacrifice to the Lord. And, “wealth” refers to “having enough of the goods of life.” So, when viewed together, “honoring” God with the “goods” He has given us, means that our gifts represent a sacrifice.

Prayer:  Lord, what we give You reveals how important You are to us. May our gifts represent a sacrifice to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;