FATHER CHRISMAS OR GIVER?: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 26TH JULY 2018

MEMORISE:

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. Luke 15:14

READ: Luke 15:11-16

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

MESSAGE:

A giver is a person who gives generously to the poor and needy in obedience to the word of God. a giver makes it a point of duty to pay his or her first fruits and tithes, gives offerings and also makes other necessary financial contributions to his or her local church.

Meanwhile, a “Father Christmas” is a term used in some parlance to describe an extravagant spender: one who unnecessarily spends a lot of money that he or she cannot afford. A Father Christmas is often typified by exaggerated, excessive or immoderate behavior and wastefulness which may result in personal harm.

Blessings are like talents entrusted to our care by God. He has called us to be givers and wise stewards of His investments in us. God frowns at any form of wasteful or extravagant behavior in His children.

The word of God guides our attention towards the right kind of open-handedness and generosity of spirit, which reflects love and worship towards God by showing concern for the poor  and the less privileged in our society (Proverb 18:17). I pray that God will bless you so much that you will become a source of blessing to your generation in Jesus’ Name.

The Bible provides us with some examples of sinful extravagance or wastefulness. A good example is found in our Bible text, where the prodigal son gathered all his inheritance together and left for a far country where he wasted all he had through extravagant spending.

In Philippians 3:19, the Holy Spirit admonishes us that those who mind earthly things, whose god are their belly, will end up in destruction. Proverbs 6:26 further tells us that those who lavish their hard-earned money on strange women and cheap girls will eventually become diminished to the value of a piece of bread.

Extravagant or wasteful spending usually leads to poverty. This is what happened to the prodigal son. After he had squandered all his inheritance, he had to take up employment in the worst kind of job in order to survive. I pray that you will never commit any error that will turn your life upside down again in the Name of Jesus.

Extravagant and wasteful spending is no substitute for doing what God requires of you (1 Samuel 15:22, Micah 6:7-8). Without any doubt, God is more interested in Christians who are determined to do their best to meet His requirement of holiness and righteous living.

The extravagant spending of an unrepentant sinner in the house of God is at best viewed as an attempt to bribe God, and this is abomination to him (Proverbs 21:17).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please let my love offering always be acceptable in Your sight in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 4-6, Matthew 8:18-9:8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4:  TRUST AND OBEY.

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

o Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.