The True Giver

TITLE: The True Giver
DATE:  September 19. 2019
TEXT:. 1 Corinthians 9:7 – ESV - Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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It is a wonderful thing when people trust the Lord to take care of them rather than relying upon themselves or their money?

When that happens, they have the right priorities." I would like to share a true story of such a right-prioritied lady.

It comes from Sunday worship, not so many years ago, in North Dakota. An elderly woman by the name of Mary fainted, and struck her head on the end of the pew. It didn't take long for a member of the congregation, an Emergency Medical Technician, to call an am­bulance.

Mary was strapped to a stretcher and they headed her out the door.

That was when she regained consciousness. Weakly, she motioned for her daughter to come near.

In all probability, the Trustees of the church were hoping that she was not threatening the congregation with a law suit, but most people watching the events assumed that she was using her last bit of strength to share a final request, or a last bit of motherly wisdom.

The daughter, with her ear next to her mother's mouth, heard the whispered words, "My offering envelope is in my purse."
Just like Jesus truly appreciated the widow who confidently placed herself, her future and her two mites into the Lord’s hands; we can applaud someone, in our own century, who does the same things with the blessings the Lord has entrusted to them.

Both of these ladies knew, as all Christians should know, that their lives can be entrusted, with complete confidence, to the Lord. He Who cared enough to redeem our souls from sin, death and Satan by sending His Son to die upon the cross, will not, at this, or any stage, leave us or forsake us.  The Psalmist confidently shared the promise of God which runs as an unbroken thread through Scripture. He said (50:15 – ESV - and call upon me in the day of trouble;  I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Here and elsewhere the Triune God has clearly told, and shown, us that it is His job to take care of us.

Through our failures and fears, through frustrations and foolishness, He will, because of His Son’s vicarious atonement, watch over us.

In response, our job, under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, is, as Luther said it, “to thank and praise, to serve and obey Him.” The way we live our thankful lives says, “this is most certainly true.”

That’s why, when Jesus says to me, ‘Isn’t it wonderful when people trust Me?’, I can reply, “Yes, Lord, and I pray that I might always be one of them.”

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me when I think that I can, or should, control my life. Grant me the confidence to say, “Thy will be done”, and be appreciative when it is. In Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html