Kindness

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

Kindness is what most people expect from others but are reluctant to demonstrate. This is usually because when kindness is extended it's taken for granted. Like when you hold the door open for a stranger and they don't acknowledge your existence. Rude. But good thing believers don't measure their worth by people's standards, but by the ones The Bible sets. Think of some ways that you can be kind daily...with a smile and a pure heart. (No eye rolling or giant sighs allowed ha)  Happy Thursday!

"A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." Proverbs 11:17

A Giving Heart

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16 

How willing are you to share what you have been blessed with? When you see a need are you quick to meet that need or do you count on someone else to do it? The material things of this earth are only temporary, yet we still get attached to our stuff, money and time. God recognizes and appreciates a giving heart. 

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Proverbs 19:17

2 Corinthians 9:9

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:9 

Don't you just love this verse? Christians latch on to verses about prosperity and blessings, but take a look at what's before that. Verses 6-8 say that if you sow sparingly, you'll reap sparingly. It seems as if you have a part to play. Yes, God will bless you but it's contingent on blessings others. If you're selfish with your finances and gifts, why should you get more? On the flip side, lack of funds does not mean that you're not blessed (that's another topic for another day lol). God looks at your heart. Are you a cheerful giver of time, talent, and treasure? Happy Friday! :)

2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8 starts off talking about how the Macedonian church remained generous while encountering hard times. Because of their generous hearts, the Word says that God was gracious towards them. If we are faithful with little, we will be faithful with much (Luke 16:10). Where is your heart considering generosity? Do you place a dollar in the tithe basket simply out of routine or is that really your first and best fruit? If has God lead you to sow into a cause, have you done so with a pure heart? How can you become more generous?

"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be" Luke 12:34

Happy Thursday! 

Proverbs 11- Generosity

"The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blessed others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped" Proverbs 11:24-25

Since Christmas is exactly 2 weeks away, what better topic than generosity? :) It's so easy to get consumed by material things at great prices, during the holidays. But being generous is more than giving gifts. It includes spending time, helping others, and doing selfless acts. Let's focus on how we can be a blessing to people we know as wells as strangers. The Lord looks at our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7), so of course we shouldn't give solely to get blessings, but we should give from a pure heart. Although we may not see millions of dollars fall from the sky instantly, The Lord is taking notes. He won't forget about his children.

(Original Post: December 11)