Australia Jews for Jesus: Reunions (Part 3)

Australia Jews for Jesus: Reunions (Part 3)

A Manual for Living

I like the way "The Message" renders the first few verses of Proverbs 1. It describes the word as "a manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair. To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality."

Without a manual for living to teach us what's right and to give us a grasp on reality, Giving for a Living would be an impossibility. Me-ism is everywhere and I know that I need this reality check daily lest I regress into passive materialism and self-gratification. I guess that's the daily challenge. To move out of one's comfort zone with all of it's passing pleasures and choose to live to give and to serve. The joy is certainly worth it but sometimes I can forget that life is not all about me and that's why I love the scriptures and how they regulate my waywardness.

"Lord, thank you for giving us a 'manual for living' and for the daily reality checks that your Word brings."

Giving Help or Enabling Laziness?

Are we giving help or enabling laziness? It's one of the political arguments that separate Dems from Republicans. When does giving to the poor become enabling laziness? Good question. And one that's not easy to answer. Perhaps Giving for a Living would be easier if we always knew the right way and the right time.

Here's an interesting verse from Proverbs 29:14. "If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure." Judging fairly may be the part that is debatable by both sides, but look at the promise to the king who judges in righteousness! He shall be given a "secure throne." A secure throne means that his leadership is solid and trustworthy. It implies a satified constituency; a happy people.

"Oh, that you O Lord, would raise up government leaders around the world who rightly understand the plight of the oppressed in their land and take appropriate action to give them what they need, not what they want. Raise up kings who judge the poor with fairness, that the lazy may not be rewarded for inactivity, yet those who exercise good work habits will prosper. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Giving At the Grandparents

I love practicing Giving for a Living when we travel to Kansas City. Why Kansas City? Oh that's where Marilyn and I were raised. Our parents still live there and I never tire of going back to see our parents and to reminisce of the special times when they gave so much to me; to us. I wish we could do it more. The joy of our visits comes full circle to me though when we can give back in a small way; by listening; by smiling; by doing simple acts of service that makes their life easier. Oh, the joy that giving brings!

As the proud son and son-in-law of two terrific sets of parents I marvel at the grace of God to have been so good to me as to allow me to be raised in a God-fearing home and to learn how to give by receiving. Not that I can speak for my bride, but I would guess that she would say that she too marvels each day at the grace of God to have been so good to her for the same.

I guess that's the way our Heavenly Father teaches giving as well. By demonstration first and then confirming his acts of love by instructing us to do t he same; to (as the old campfire song states) to "Pass it On." He tells us we should practice it in his word but it takes on meaning for the Believer when we realize that he demonstrated it first. And we inherit eternal life by believing in his demonstration. "For God so Loved the world that he gave..." John 3;16

Thank you Lord for a heavenly model of selfless giving...and thank you too Lord for terrific earthly models as well. Marilyn and I couldn't be more blessed that to have seen what selfless giving looked like in our parents. For it's in giving that we receive. And in receiving, we are compelled to give again.

Giving Will Always Be Rewarded

"Sometimes we give expecting nothing in return; sometime we do expect a return. Though it seems wrong at first glance, it is actually not wrong to expect a return for our giving. The scriptures support the promise that God will return our giving in due season. Psalm 62:12 says, 'And lovingkindness is yours, O Lord. For You recompense a man according to his work.' Proverbs 24:12 says, 'If you say, 'See, we did not know this,' Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?'

Though it may not come with the timing that we would like, our reward rests in a God who cannot lie; who is watching and keeping track and who will indeed repay our giving according to what is right and just. Ours is to stay humble; hide under the shadow of his wing and trust his faithfulness.

'Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.' Habakkuk 2:4"

Ah, the freedom of practicing Giving for a Living.

Simple Ways to Give More - Giving for a Living is a Choice

Simple Ways to Give More - Giving for a Living is a Choice:

Giving by guilt is the motivation we're most familiar with. 'Wanna give a dollar to Jerry's kids?' asked the young Taco Bell employee begrudgingly. Guilt. 'Oh yeah, I guess so,' you reply. 'Why not?'
You can feel it can't you? That sense of guilt that momentarily got you doing unnaturally what you know in your heart, ought to come naturally. Oh, it's not that you don't want to help in the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. You believe in the mission; you believe in all of those good things that people are fighting for as long as they are biblical and advance the Kingdom, but if you feel 'guilted into it,' you usually don't find joy in doing it. Yet if we aren't made aware of such needs, how are they to be satisfied?
That's why making a conscious choice to give a generous amount mostly with planned giving and a small amount with joyous spontaneity works for me. I set my heart like a thermostat toward the purposes of God each day. I am reminded of key verses such as Matthew 6:33 which command me to do so but I find peace and joy in the shadow of His will and purpose. And I know that by 'paying it forward' he will receive the glory and praise for whatever happens in my life.
Surely, our freedom to choose is God's greatest gift to us. And fortunately, we have the freedom to choose an attitude of Giving for a Living every single day!"

Simple Ways to Give More - Praise and Worship - A Giver's Recharge

Simple Ways to Give More - Praise and Worship - A Giver's Recharge: "Giving for a Living requires a respite; a recharge; an oasis in the storm of life. Big givers know this because they realize that they couldn't be big givers without regular drinks of refreshment from the Giver of life itself. Corporate worship is not what we do because it's a tradition once a week, it's what we do because we were made for worship and it behooves the giver to receive regularly too.

As you can tell, I believe in this. I never tire of coming together with the saints to give praise to him who is worthy of all my praise and devotion. It's my firm conviction that giving becomes a joy and remains so for the one who spends generous amounts of time recharging their batteries. And since, there is no end to his glory, there is no end to what we can do when we rest in the fountain of life.

Lest we give from an empty cup of bitterness and regret, we must come and partake of him who said, 'He who drinks of me, shall never thirst again.' Interested in practicing giving for a living? Let it begin with receiving his love as you gaze upon his beauty; his holiness; as you bask in his presence."