40 Day Journey - Day 12

March 23
Fast Withholding
 
Proverbs 11:24,25 
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another holds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 
 
   One of the biggest tools of destruction in our nation's economy is debt.  Debt comes when one lives beyond their means - this is created by the influence we are bombarded with everyday to have more in order to live better.
   There is little mentioned today about giving of ourselves for the benefit of others. Usually the only occasion in which we will hear of an individual or business giving to others is a brief moment on a newscast or in a newspaper.  
   Let's look at the truth found in God's Word. “The one who gives freely gains even more, a generous person will prosper; one who refreshes others will be refreshed.”
   There is something beyond financial prosperity that a giver receives; it is the simple joy of giving to bless others that brings fulfillment to any life.
  There is also other ways of being generous than by the giving of money; from the time taken out to advise someone to just being a listening ear to hurting, we all have something to offer that can refresh another today.
 
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Fast withholding today –  Plan to go beyond your normal giving today, be it in the church offering, giving of yourself more through involvement in the service or giving of yourself more to someone in need.