Your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day and the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring (Isaiah 58:10-11).
Whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17)
The Bible tells us to share generously with those in need, and good things will come to us in turn. We are not meant to live hard-hearted or self-centred lives. This is never made clearer than in Matthew 25:31-46. A greedy, miserly life leaves us devoid of anything but an empty craving for more possessions, more power or more status.
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses. (Proverbs 28:27)
It is not necessary to be a wealthy philanthropist or a full-time volunteer to make a meaningful contribution. Rather, we should give generously of whatever wealth and abilities we have, no matter how small the amount.
And Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
WHAT IS GENEROSITY?
The apostle Paul said that even the most lavish donations are empty acts in God’s sight if the giver’s heart is hardened toward him (1 Corinthians 13:3). So a truly generous giver is, first of all, a person who has been reconciled to God through faith in Christ, whose perfect life and sacrificial death can generously free any person from sin.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENEROUS GIVER:
(1) A generous giver experiences the joy of giving. When he gives, it does not feel like a burden but a pleasure.
(2) A generous giver lives and gives with an eternal perspective. He is unconcerned with how much he owns in this life because his attention is on the age to come.
(3) A generous giver models the proverb, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He not only believes these words of Jesus, but he actually prefers giving over getting, so that he regularly chooses to give more and receive less.
(4) A generous giver recognizes that God owns everything. He does not cling to possessions because he does not believe that he truly owns them anyway. His goal is to put God’s money where God wants it.
(5) A generous giver offers gifts as an act of worship. His driving motivation is neither self-concern nor love for others, but love for God. The most important truth in his life is God’s saving love in Christ, and he gives in order to thank and to honour his God.
How Can I Help? (Deuteronomy 15:11) ‟For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.”
Pray for this Outreach
Become a sponsoring individual/group
Be a representative that puts items in your church newsletter
Volunteer to join LIVO Group
Collect needed items
Volunteer to help load materials
Pick-up donated items
Save printer cartridges and donate
Be a source connection for medical supplies
Talk with your employer/group/associations about donations
Consider an individual monetary contribution