2021-07-17
Deuteronomy 15:8 NKJV
God instructed the Israelites, “If there is among you a poor man…you shall open your hand wide to him” (vv. 7-8 NKJV). Giving is the loftiest level of living. Generous people focus their time and effort on what they can give to others, not what they can get from them. And the more you give, the better your attitude becomes.
Many people don’t understand this concept. They think the amount you possess determines the amount you should share. It’s not what you have that matters; it’s what you do with what you have. And that’s determined by your attitude. A famous saying puts it this way: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
And serving others is something you can start doing today. Whether it means spending more time with your family, mentoring an employee who shows potential, helping people in your church or community – it’s about putting your own desires on hold to bless someone else. The Bible says, “Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” (Proverbs 31:9 MSG).
The only way to maintain an attitude of generosity is to make a habit of giving of your time, attentiveness, money, and resources. Author Richard Foster says, “Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon [of] greed.” Think about what you’re already giving, what you’ve been asked to give, and what you would like to give. Your reasons for granting or denying a request for financial help may be valid, but are they godly? Think about how it feels when you give, and let that be your guide.
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
2021-07-16
Proverbs 11:13 NIV
Betrayal is worse than gossip. A gossip may not necessarily harbor ill will toward his or her victim; but a betrayer knowingly divulges information in a breach of confidence. They commit “relational treason” by violating the trust someone has placed in them.
Judas was in a position to betray Jesus with very little effort because he was familiar with His comings and goings. The Bible says, “Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples” (John 18:2 NIV). Judas used his inside knowledge of Jesus’ tendencies to hurt him. Then later his behavior engendered such self-loathing that he committed suicide. Acts of betrayal eat away at your self-esteem and sense of dignity.
So, have you ever breached a confidence? If so, why did you do it? What was the reward? Did you gain some inside advantage? What were you envious or resentful of at the time? Was there an unresolved conflict between you and the other person? Have you repented of what you did? Conversely, has someone betrayed your confidence? If so, were you reaping what you had sown? What valuable lesson did you learn from it? Have you freed the offender in your heart, and no longer desire retribution? If not, you’re still bound to them and they’re controlling your life. Drop it! Remind yourself that, “All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).
Strive to become a trustworthy person others can depend on to guard their secrets. And if you’re blessed to have a trustworthy friend yourself, thank God for them!
Soul food: Acts 12-13; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
2021-07-15
1 Timothy 6:17-18 NLT
Taskmasters don’t come much tougher than Bob Thompson. For forty years he pushed his highway workers hard six days a week from April to December to finish the job before the first frost. Their loyalty, sweat, and hard work helped make him a very rich man. Thompson remembered this and returned the favour. When he sold his company, Michigan’s largest asphalt and paving business, he gave his 550 current and retired employees $128 million from his gains. Even surviving spouses got checks. Some ninety employees became instant millionaires.
Thompson started the Thompson-McCully Company with $3,500 his wife, Ellen, earned from substitute teaching. The first five years in business were challenging. Thompson didn’t take a salary. So why later did he give away so much of his fortune? “It was the right thing to do,” he said. “You realize the people around you have gone through all the pain and suffering with you. I wanted to pay them back.” When the checks were handed out, Thompson wasn’t present. He said, “I didn’t want to be there because it gets too emotional.”
This man practiced what the apostle Paul talked about: “Teach those who are rich…to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.” Doing good isn’t a moonlighting occupation, it’s a full-time job. The person of character is guided by the North Star of goodness that leads him or her to ask in every situation, “What’s the right thing to do?” And the answer is always: “Do the right thing by others.”
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
2021-07-14
Luke 5:5 NIV
Lesson five: Stand on the promises of God. In their previous fishing attempt, the disciples were trusting in their own experience and ability. But this time they were trusting in Christ’s promise: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4 NIV). Now, Jesus didn’t specifically say, “Peter, if you go fishing with me, I promise you a big catch.” He didn’t need to say it because Peter realized that when Christ told him to go fishing, and then got into his boat, and then told him exactly where to put down the net, there was no way it was going to come up empty! Peter expected God to act. He expected Him to keep His promise.
When you get God’s presence in your boat, God’s plan in your head, and God’s promises in your heart, you can’t fail. Maybe you’re saying, “That sounds great, but you don’t know my circumstances. Right now I’m defeated by the problems I’m experiencing. I’m having some hard times.”
If you’re feeling beaten by your circumstances, do this: Read your Bible, find a specific promise from God, and start claiming it. Start expecting God to act, and you’ll find that His promise will inject new hope into your situation. Just because you haven’t solved your problem doesn’t mean the solution doesn’t exist. With God, success often begins at the point of failure. It’s after you’ve “fished all night and caught nothing,” that He steps in.
So the word for you today is – Don’t give up! Try again. This time do it with Jesus in your boat, and He will make all the difference.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Luke 7:11-23v; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 15:31-32
2021-07-13
Luke 5:4 NKJV
Lesson four: God’s plan for your life always involves risk. Why? Because He wants you to live by faith. Why do you think Jesus said to Peter, “Launch out into the deep”? Because that’s where the big fish are.
Most people live out their days in the shallow waters of life. They exist on a superficial level. There’s little depth to their lives; they’re content to play around the edge, never getting out into deeper water. Why? Because it’s safer in shallow water. They think, “If I get out into the deep water, there might be some waves. They might rock my boat, and it might overturn. So I’ll just stay back here where it’s comfortable, and fiddle around.”
We barely get our feet wet because we’re afraid of getting in over our heads. We think, “If I really get serious about my commitment to the Lord, He may make me a fanatic. My family might get really upset. What will my friends think? What if God asks me to do something I’m unable to do?” So we’re content to stay in the shallows – and we miss out on so much.
Understand this: God’s plan for your life is a good plan, one that will work for your benefit (See Jeremiah 29:11-14). He says, “Let me get into your boat. Let my presence be with you wherever you go – in your business, in your career, in your family, in your marriage, in every area. Let me direct you. Cooperate with my plan, and I will bless you beyond your wildest dreams.” Why not take Him at His word today, and launch out in faith?
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Luke 7:1-10; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 15:27-30
2021-07-12
Luke 5:5 NKJV
Lesson three: Cooperate with God’s plan for your life: “He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking” (vv. 4-6 NKJV).
Jesus taught the disciples where to fish, when to fish, and how to fish. And He will teach you how to succeed in life too. But like Peter, sometimes your plan has to fail before you become willing to accept God’s plan. And if that’s what it takes, God will let you fail. Notice two things:
(1) Peter didn’t argue with Jesus, he simply obeyed. As a professional fisherman, he may well have thought, “Lord, who are you to tell me how to fish?” He may even have thought if he didn’t catch anything at night when the fish were usually biting, he surely wasn’t going to catch anything in the middle of the day when the sun was glaring down on the water. But he didn’t argue; he just obeyed. You must too.
(2) He didn’t listen to his feelings. No doubt he was dog-tired from working all night. But he didn’t ask, “What’s the use? Why should I keep on going?” Instead of being led by his feelings, he exercised faith in the promise of Christ – and the results were amazing. And if you’ll put your faith in Jesus today, He will do the same for you.
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Luke 6:37-49; Ps 109:16-31; Prov 15:23-26
