Flourish in Giving – What We Are Not to Give (Part 1)

    So far in our study we have learned that we must first give ourselves to God (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 4:1-2) – this is vital to our learning, obeying, and flourishing – we must choose God over self. Next, we need to give thanks to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 13:15, Colossians 1:12) – developing a sincere gratitude for God’s blessings will fortify our trust and encourage our obedience. After that, we looked at the need to give glory to God (Psalm 29:1-2, 1 Peter 2:9) – all we have is from God: our abilities, our wherewithal, time and opportunity (ex: Deuteronomy 8:18, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Ephesians 2:10). We are simply sharing from the abundant supply He has granted us (Psalm 68:19, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) – so we need to give Him the praise, tell others that it was by His blessings you could be a benefit to them, and that it is God to whom all glory is due!

    Now, if you’re already flourishing in these areas; that is wonderful! Keep going! Keep growing!! And, if you’re desiring to flourish in these areas, keep trying! Discover what happens when you don’t give up!! Whatever stage of development you find yourself at, I would like you to consider and area to watch out for; a circumstance in which we are instructed NOT to give.

Do Not Give Place to the Devil  

    Throughout Ephesians 4 to 6, Paul teaches Christians how to walk worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1), and one of the many instructions he gives is found in chapter 4, verses 26-27: “”Be angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” We are to resolve our quarrels quickly (Proverbs 17:14), otherwise we leave ourselves open to the devil’s temptations (consider God’s instruction about sin in Genesis 4:7, and Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 5:21-26).

    The command to not give place to the devil is applicable everywhere in our lives, not just in the matter of harbouring anger. Anytime we choose self over God we give the devil a foothold in our lives. For example: You choose __(fill in the blank)__ over attending worship services one week (or any other good and proper thing), the devil will certainly take advantage of that and feed you all sorts of lies as you struggle to justify your choice; he may even work to create more opportunities/invitations that keep you on the same selfish path, all in an effort to distract you from attending faith-fortifying assemblies/activities (remember what faith does to his fiery darts, Ephesians 6:16).

Don’t make it easy for the devil to claim you:

• Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7)
• Put on the full armour of God, so that you can stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil (Ephesians 6:11)  
• Be sober, be vigilant – the devil walks about looking for someone to devour; resist him – get help from your brethren, be a help to your brethren - we need to band together and stand against him (1 Peter 5:8-9)
• Keep watch over yourself (that you are in Jesus and walking as He walked, 1 John 2:3-6), stay on guard, and the wicked one will not touch you (1 John 5:18)

    When we flourish in giving ourselves to God, in giving thanks to Him, and in giving Him the glory, we are guarding ourselves from giving place to the devil – so keep flourishing in giving what is good and right to our gracious and loving Father in heaven and resist the temptation to give place to the devil!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish in Giving God the Glory

    Consider clay for a moment. If the lump of clay was to say to the sculptor, “I can do this on my own; I don’t need you,” what is going to happen? That lump will not gain any help from the world around it, quite the opposite; and try as it might, having no capacity within itself to change, it will remain as it is and become hardened.

    But the clay that submits to the water applied by the sculptor, knowing it is being prepared for something greater, endures the pressures applied by the sculptor’s careful hands and allows itself to be transformed from a lump to a beneficial vessel.

    God is our Creator – our Sculptor, if you will – and we are the clay. This is an oft used illustration in the Bible. Read and consider Isaiah 29:15-16; this is the clay that says it doesn’t need the Sculptor. But we, who have submitted to the Sculptor, and to the water He has provided (waters of baptism, Mark 16:15-16, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Peter 3:21), are being transformed under the properly applied pressure of God’s wise and loving hands (Hebrews 12:3-11, Ephesians 4:17-24) into beneficial people. And even as sculpted clay must go through fire (kiln) to be complete, so must we also endure the fiery trials of life – the testing of our faith – but in the end we will receive the salvation of our souls (read and think on 1 Peter 1:3-9).

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 NKJV)   

     As we have already learned in this study, we must first, give ourselves to God, because without God we can do nothing, and it is only with Him that we have access to the life-changing blessings that He bestows in mercy and kindness toward us (Ephesians 1:3-14, 1 John 4:9-10). Second, we must learn to give thanks to God. He is our Creator and Sustainer, our goodness is nothing apart from Him (Psalm 16:2); we must develop an attitude of gratitude that declares daily – and many times throughout each day – our praise and thanksgiving for all He has done, continues to do, and promises to do!

    If you do not give ourselves to God and trust His word, if we do not appreciate all that He is and all that He does and learn to give thanks to Him in everything, then we will not be able to do what is decreed throughout the Bible: give glory to God.

“Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:1-2 NKJV)

glory (Greek: doxa) means good opinion, praise, honour.  

    In reference to God it carries with it a declaration of God’s intrinsic worth and worthiness. All that God does gives rise to praise and our good opinion – everything He does is only ever for our good – our natural response to such loving goodness is to give praise and glory for such.

 “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:3 NKJV)

How to Give Glory to God:

    Abraham gave glory to God when He did not waver at God promises through unbelief – he wholly trusted and was fully convinced of God’s faithfulness, His power, and His capability – and was strong in faith (Romans 4:20-21). Abraham declared God, His worth, and His worthiness to be trusted and obeyed, by trusting and obeying Him! When we, like Abraham, wholly trust and obey God, we prove “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2) and exhibit God’s wisdom to those around us.

    In Luke 17:11-19, one leper (one among ten others who were healed by Jesus), returned to Jesus, and with a loud voice glorified God, fell down at Jesus’ feet, and gave Him thanks. Jesus said, “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? Arise, go your way, your faith has made you well.” So giving glory to God involves faith, and it also includes turning to God in humbleness, proclaiming His praise for what He has done, and giving thanks to Him for the same. When we, like the leper, are helped, we should also have a heart like his that desires to immediately run to the Source of our help, joyfully proclaim His praises on the way, and fall to our knees before Him in thanksgiving.

    When we come to know who God is and who we are before Him we will understand that without Him we were hopeless (Ephesians 2:11-13), it is He who made us and not we ourselves (Psalm 100:3), and it is He who daily loads us with benefits (Psalm 68:19). These truths should motivate us to glorify Him by strengthening our faith, and by choosing to wholly trust Him and obey Him each day; it should fill our hearts with thanksgiving, and praise should spill over our lips in gratitude! These truths should cause us to joy in running to God, they should bring us to our knees in humble gratitude for His unfailing love and compassion! These truths should keep us from craving praise from men for what good we may accomplish (consider Matthew 6:1-4), and instead compel us to direct all praise and thanksgiving to God (Matthew 5:14-16) because He is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17); it is He – and it always will be He, who deserves both the credit and the glory!

    We were once like lowly lumps of clay, but by submitting to God’s sculpting, we are now able to do good works (Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 9:8) and be beneficial people (Titus 2-3, Galatians 6:9-10)! Give God the glory – and proclaim His praises – for transforming your life and sculpting you into a woman with talent and ability to benefit others, a women who humbly obeys God and proclaims His praises (1 Peter 2:9), and one who can endure beautifully to the end!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish in Giving Thanks to God

    God, through the apostle Paul, tells us that we are to use our words for good, specifically for giving of thanks (read and consider Ephesians 5:1-4), and we are instructed to give thanks always for all things (Ephesians 5:19-20) and in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), so it is certainly an area of giving in which we need to be flourishing!

“…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)

    What can we give thanks for?

    A beginning place is thanking God daily for “life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25) because He is our Creator, Sustainer, and our faithful loving Father, but I think it is important to always work toward thanking God (and praising Him) for specific things. When we think about specifics we are developing a real gratitude for His wondrous blessings, and we are tuning our eyes to see them and preparing our hearts to give thanks to Him for each one of them!

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30 NKJV)

Give Thanks to God For His Provision

    For His spiritual provision:

    God daily loads us with benefits, namely our salvation (Psalm 68:19)! Read and think on John 3:16-17, 1 John 4:9-10 and give thanks to God for qualifying us “to be partakers of the inheritance,” for delivering us, conveying us, redeeming us, and forgiving us (Colossians 1:12-14, also read Ephesians 1:3-23). Don’t limit your consideration and giving of thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice to just Sunday when you gather with the church to take communion (the Lord’s Supper), think about it and learn to appreciate it even more each day. Let your heart declare: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57), “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14), and “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

    For His physical provision:

    God grants us ability to work and obtain an income (Deuteronomy 8:18) – have you thanked Him yet today for your job and your ability to do it?  Read and consider Matthew 6:25-34. God provides us with food, drink, and clothing when we determine to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We are often taught as children to thank God for our meals, and most of us still purposefully pray in thanksgiving for our food, but how often do we pause in our closets and thank Him for our clothing? It’s another way to allow our thanksgiving to flourish!

    For His help in times of trouble:

    God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and He grants us access to “come boldly to the throne of grace” – at any time, as many times as needed – “to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15). He also wants to provide us with His peace – peace that guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus – all He asks of us is to give Him all our anxieties, make our requests known to Him through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). We may be frequent in our asking for His help but do we follow up each help with a prayer of thanks?

Give Thanks to God For Our Brethren

    Paul provided us with many examples of proclaiming thanks to God for his brothers and sisters in Christ:

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with joy…” (Philippians 1:3-4)

“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints…” (Colossians 1:3-4)

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers…” (1 Thessalonians 1:2)

“We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other…” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

    See also 2 Timothy 1:3 and Philemon 4-5

    Have you given thanks to God for your brethren? They too are a provision from God – who help us in our walk (2 Timothy 2:22)!

Give Thanks to God For All People And Those in Authority

    God gives us clear instruction in how to speak about “all men, for kings and all who are in authority,” – this includes MPs, MPPs, Prime Ministers, Governor-Generals, Senators, Governors, Members of Congress, Vice Presidents, Presidents, and those campaigning for these positions – we are to make supplications (fervent, heartfelt pleas), intercessions (pray on their behalf), and giving of thanks for all of them. We, who know God, who know of His power and ability, who know of His goodness and love, are to be praying for these men and women – fervently, diligently, humbly, imploringly and thankfully! They too are a provision from God (read and think on Romans 13:1-7)!

Give Thanks to God Continually With Praise:

    Whatever we do in word or deed, we are to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, and we are to give thanks to the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17) – thanking God for life, ability, mobility, His blessings (health, nourishment, clothing, our senses, transportation), His grace (forgiveness, His word to guide us, His help, etc.), and for opportunities to do good (Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 6:9-10, Titus 3:14).

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV)

• If you awoke to this day – give thanks to God!
• If you have heard the gospel and obeyed it – give thanks to God!
• If you have obeyed God’s commands and discovered His wisdom in providing those instructions – give thanks to God!
• If you had food to eat, water to drink, and clothing to wear - give thanks to God!
• If you see His goodness in your day (Matthew 5:16) – give thanks to God!
• If you have been helped by your brethren – give thanks to God!
• If you were able to help another person – give thanks to God!
• If you have asked Him for help and been helped – give thanks to God!
• If you live in a country that has laws for your safety – give thanks to God!

    Give thanks to God often and always! Be specific – it will help you to remember and appreciate all that God has done, all that He continues to do, and all that He promises to do! Are you ready to flourish in giving? Give thanks to God!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish Even More in 2024 in Giving

    If the Lord wills, over the next few weeks I would like to dig into a study about giving, so we can flourish even more in it! God generously gives us all things (1 Timothy 6:17-19, James 1:5), and He does this so that we can give to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 9:8)!

    How do we cultivate a generous, giving heart? I think we must first give ourselves to God. We need to know and trust God and His word, only then can we be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), and be generous, like He is, in all good things.

    Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever cannot bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple… whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27, 33)  

    We cannot let our parents ideas of what is right, our siblings notions of goodness, nor our own feelings come before serving God and obeying His word; even if it’s what our parents “have always done,” even if our siblings now call us a stick in the mud, and especially if we’re beginning to think we’ve already done enough/learned enough to be “okay.” As true Christians, we are part of the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ is our King (1 Timothy 6:13-16), are you willing to give up all other rule and authority in your life to follow Him in His way? Take time to read and consider 1 John 2:3-6.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)  

    God does not ask too much of us when He commands us to sacrifice our own notions, ideas, and desires so that we can be transformed into a new person created in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:17-24). Giving ourselves to Him, allowing His instructions and commands to transform us (so we no longer look, sound, nor act like the world), is the only way to prove to both ourselves and others around us that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect!

    When we give ourselves to God we do not let anyone’s opinion sway us – no matter if they be family, friend, or self – we will compare words with God’s word; if what is said does not align with what God has said, we stick with God – we submit to Him, Our Creator and Father, not to the person in error. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. What God commands us to give up is minuscule in comparison to what He gives us in return (Psalm 68:19, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17)!

    Please open your Bible and take time to think on these passages: Galatians 2:20, Matthew 16:24-27/Luke 9:23-26, and Romans 1:16-17   

“Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2 NKJV)

    Are you ready to flourish in giving? God asks us to first give ourselves to Him, that we may do His will and be proof that it is worthy of doing! God is faithful and His promises are true! Trust His word – it is only ever for your good – obey His commands and give yourself wholly to Him!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Peace - The Faithful Will Find Peace

“Mark the blameless man, observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.” (Psalm 37:37 NKJV)

    Have you considered that fact that you can be at peace knowing that one day you will be at peace? This is not a “fake it ‘til you make it” idea, quite the opposite. Fully trusting in God, believing that no matter what you are going through, He will strengthen you and help you every step of the way, brings peace.

    My Mom had a phrase that became synonymous with her: “This too shall pass.” I know now that it was said as a reminder to both herself and the person she was speaking with to ‘be at peace, and trust that peace will come.’

    David wrote these words to show that those who are blameless in God’s sight, who walk uprightly in humble obedience, they will find peace. He closes this psalm with even more peace-providing facts for the righteous:

“…the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.” (Psalm 37:39-40 NKJV)

    These verses remind me of the praise Peter offered to God in 1 Peter 1:3-9, please take the time to read this passage. Our faith is proven and our trust is fortified through various trials and in the end, salvation!

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 NKJV)

    Are you ready to feel at peace while you wait for peace to come? Dig into God’s word – start with the Psalms (31, 34, 40, are all good psalms to meditate on!), read the letter to the Ephesians – fill your mind with all the good God has done, all the blessings He continues to provide, all the promises of help and hope He has promised to those who love Him and faithfully serve Him! 

    Let your peace of mind, your “this too shall pass” mindset, be an example to those who are searching for hope and peace. Point them to God and His way, show them how to lead an upright and blameless life before Him, show them how to walk in peace, fully trusting our glorious God and Father to fulfill all that He has promised!

You can flourish in peace! God will provide! Trust Him and remain faithful to His way!

You can do it! So can I!!