January 26th, 2024
Friday, January 26th
A Need That Burdens Your Heart
By: Pastor Todd
Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
-Deuteronomy 15:9-11 NIV
Every 7th year all debts were to be forgiven. It was the divine reset that God established to help alleviate pressure on the poor. As a result, in the early years of the seven, money lent had interest, but by the time you got to the last years of the seven it was basically like giving it away. As a result, no one would provide to the poor in the last year or two. What God had established to help the poor was misused and ended up hurting their cause.
The reason this happened was because most of those with money could not get past the “what’s in it for me?” mentality. That’s a problem. God has a real issue with those of us who always think our resources are for our consumption only.
On the flip side, for those who believe the definition of a great life is not in how many dollars we make but in how much difference we make, there is great blessing. Every time we take any of our resources and ask, “what’s in it for them?” God smiles upon us. And great will be your reward in heaven.
I want to encourage you to avoid lending money to family members. If the need is real, give it instead. I challenge you to find a need that burdens your heart and meet it with openhanded generosity. Watch for a chance this year to give with such ridiculous generosity that you will feel something between giddy, dizzy, and scared. Then watch how God blesses from there.
A Need That Burdens Your Heart
By: Pastor Todd
Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
-Deuteronomy 15:9-11 NIV
Every 7th year all debts were to be forgiven. It was the divine reset that God established to help alleviate pressure on the poor. As a result, in the early years of the seven, money lent had interest, but by the time you got to the last years of the seven it was basically like giving it away. As a result, no one would provide to the poor in the last year or two. What God had established to help the poor was misused and ended up hurting their cause.
The reason this happened was because most of those with money could not get past the “what’s in it for me?” mentality. That’s a problem. God has a real issue with those of us who always think our resources are for our consumption only.
On the flip side, for those who believe the definition of a great life is not in how many dollars we make but in how much difference we make, there is great blessing. Every time we take any of our resources and ask, “what’s in it for them?” God smiles upon us. And great will be your reward in heaven.
I want to encourage you to avoid lending money to family members. If the need is real, give it instead. I challenge you to find a need that burdens your heart and meet it with openhanded generosity. Watch for a chance this year to give with such ridiculous generosity that you will feel something between giddy, dizzy, and scared. Then watch how God blesses from there.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
New Year, Fresh StartA Good Plan for the New YearCall on MeHope Has a NameHolidays in Rear ViewHolinessHow to Have our Mind TransformedNew Year, New YouA Pattern of RenewalVictory in JesusFear Knot? Fear Not.Seek the LORDBetterWhere to Place your TrustRadical GraceGenerosity God's WayThe Poor and NeedyThe Open Hand ConceptA Need that Burdens your HeartHow's Your Heart?Who Are You?Testing in the Wilderness
February
CallingDon't HideWhere You AreJust the Two of UsInvesting in the Kingdom of GodThe Golden RuleAgainst the GrainUnexplainable JoyThe Power of God's WordFollow MeThe God of the ImpossibleOut on a LimbWe All Face ItTrue JusticeGatherGood SoilDon't Put God in a BoxBe BraveCulture CheckFeed His Sheep. Love His People.Jesus Revealed
March
Jesus in His GloryNot QuantityHow Much God Loves ChildrenWhere Two or Three are GatheredLike Little ChildrenFocusAmazing GraceBeing Confronted By JesusKingdom FruitWedding AttireCome with a Hungry HeartLive and Lead Like HimTough LoveBe on your GuardKeep WatchTalentsSlow DownBeing Led by the SpiritKingdom WatchThey Are Us. We Are Them.Jesus Gave His All For UsHe is Risen, Indeed
April
The Most Important Question Ever AskedExchanging Death for a Better LifeThe Space BetweenHe's got the KeysI want to know HimJoy of the LordNeverthelessFullness of JoyFavorites"Try it, you'll like it."He Created MeHe Chose to Die for MeGod's Love for UsAn Eternal LoveNothing will SeparateThe Salt ShakerThe Word Brings HopeMeditate on God's WordA Well Lit PathEverything Wears Out
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments