God is a giver, and there is no worthier goal than to give like God gives.
2013, let us start our year right. Are we not blessed to see that most of our goals and prayers are answered and heard by God for the year 2012? We have always been asking God to provide all of our needs and even wants, did we ever hear Him complain? God loves us so much that He is actually giving everything to sustain us, our family, and our loved ones. God is a giver, and He wants us to be just the same. If we ask for wisdom, He gives us wisdom. When we ask for strength, He gives us situations in life that will test our strength. If we ask for financial blessings, He will provide us with a good job and career. Whatever we need, He will give it to us accordingly and willingly. Minsan nga, hindi pa natin kailangan humingi, andyan na sa harapan mo, kukunin mo nalang. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. So let us take a moment of our very busy schedule and thank Him for giving us all the things that we have received and experienced for 2012.
I was assigned to do a short exhortation on giving for tomorrow's service. As I was contemplating and praying to God to teach me on what to say, He showed me this sermon online about Giving like God gives. Madalas, tayong mga tao, magbibigay tayo kasi kailangan. Minsan kasi nakakahiya kasi binigyan tayo, minsan naman out of pity. Usually, when we give material things, hirap na hirap tayo, yung pinakamura ang bibilhin natin kasi iniisip natin, baka magshort ako sa budget. These are realities that we face everyday. It is not easy to give, especially when its something that you worked hard for. Kaya unang pumasok sa isip ko, paano nga ba ako magbibigay kagaya ng pagbibigay Niya? I always wanted to walk into His light, pero minsan ang pumipigil sakin ang ugali ko at ang puso ko pagdating sa pagbibigay. Hindi lamang ito patungkol sa pagbibigay ng tithes, even when it comes to giving our offerings, minsan ramdam na ramdam natin na ang hirap pakawalan ang pera, to think that this money is actually not ours, it actually came fom God. He provided us all these things and He doesn't need our money, what He needs is our heart and the right attitude. We don't need to give anything to God because He has everything already. He is simply teaching us that if we want to be like Him, we need to learn how to give lovingly, willingly, sacrificially, and cheerfully.
Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you. Give to others and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands - all that you can hold.
Luke 6:37-38
How do we give like God?
1. God gives lovingly. John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. A life verse, a memory verse, a verse that we know by heart. We learned how to love because God is love. God loved us first. God gave Jesus, His only son, because of His selfless love. When we give, it's very simple... Do it out of love. Give out of love. It's the greatest commandment anyway, Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and soul. And next to that is love your neighbor as yourself.
2. God gives sacrificially. Mark 10:45. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he come to serve and give his life to redeem many people. Giving is so amazing that it cost God something, for Him to do it. He gave His only son, for the redemption of all. That is sacrifice. Once it begins to hurt, once it begins to be very costly and sometimes we feel very uncomfortable already... That's the time that we know we are giving away something very important to us that involves a lot of SACRIFICE. God gave His only son, that is sacrificial love. When we give something valuable and expensive, that is sacrifice. We are very costly, were paid with a price and was paid in full.
3. God gives willingly. Romans 8:32. If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not along with him graciously give us all things? We did not force God to give. He does it willingly and cheerfully. He wants to do it for us because He loves us so much. He chooses to give in the same way that we are given our own choices. He is teaching us to give, but to give willingly and cheerfully. Kapag napipilitan lang tayo, ibang usapan na yun. Let us remember that God loves a cheerful giver. It's all about having the right attitude!
This is something that I ought to share to everyone since its the start of the year. 2013 na, marami nanaman tayong pagsubok na haharapin, ating tandaan na lahat ng bagay ay posible dahil sa Kanya. Huwag nating gawing bangko, supermarket, department store at hospital si Lord. Guilty ako sa maramig bagay pagdating dito, kaya I thank Him for always teaching me the lessons that I need to learn. We always ask and ask and we tend to forget that we also need to give to God and to others. Nawa'y ngayong 2013 mas madami pang blessings ang dumating sa ating mga buhay, at higit sa lahat... Huwag nating kalimutan that every good and perfect gift is from above. Let us thank our Maker for giving us the gift of life and everything that we could ever hope for.
Truly God is good. All the time. :)
Blessed and prosperous 2013, readers.
Salamat po! ❤
Blogged. x
*www.centralpc.org/sermons/2006/s060611.htm
