For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(John 3:16)
In our last study, we saw how giving was an important part in the Old Testament. God had commanded his people to give and none was to come before him empty-handed. (For details, refer to our last Bible devotional post) As we analyze our fundamental verse of John 3:16, it goes beyond just a nice verse of salvation. It shows how one offering can impact you and others for a lifetime.
God, himself, gave us an example. He gave a sacrificial offering. He gave us his best and that was his son Jesus. As he planted him through his death, burial and resurrection, the church was born. We have seen through history how it has impacted generations to come.
We saw how Solomon, as he approached God in prayer, gave a thousand burnt offerings. (II Chronicles 1:6) Even in today’s economy, it was a big offering. I want to make something clear, you cannot buy God’s blessing. Yes, we need to be expecting a return on our giving, but we do it because we love God. We can’t give with impure motives.
Even Cornelius, when he gave his alms, called God’s attention. (Acts 10:4) Your giving before God is not in vain. He keeps records and rewards accordingly. Concerning Solomon, the results of his giving impressed God that he personally visited him in the night time.
The first thing God asked was —What I shall give thee? (I Chron 1:7) Solomon did not ask for riches nor material things, but he asked for wisdom. As a result, his wisdom would be known for generations to come. He made an impact that blessed him and his family. More on wisdom tomorrow-God willing.
Prayer–Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me. Give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation concerning the subject of giving. Help me to give with a pure heart. Make me a vessel of blessing that will bless me, my family and future generations to come. Thank you, Father, for teaching me about giving. In Jesus name, amen.
The Christian Corner Ministries 