One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.

                                                                                                                 Proverbs 19:17 

Today: Read Proverbs 19

Have you experienced the joy of giving to others who cannot repay you? Have you seen the miraculous reciprocation of God in response to your giving? Today’s passage reminds us that as we give in this life, we are actually lending to God. This eternal account is kept by God and He is the One who will repay us for our faithfulness. To better understand this, let’s move from Proverbs 19 to Matthew 19:

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 

                                                                                                Matthew 19:29 

It’s important to notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say that He might repay those who give up much to follow Him. He didn’t say that He would repay, but that it would be minuscule in comparison to what was given up. Jesus declares that everyone who gives up the things of this life for the name of Christ will receive many times as much. Also, we need to notice that this repayment is dealing with earthly things. How do we know that? Jesus makes mention of two specific things, repayment of many times as much and eternal life. In other words, He draws a distinction between the two. Eternal life is for all of those who belong to Christ, but receiving from God for sacrificial obedience is for those who have chosen Jesus over everything else in this world, including houses, family, and businesses. When we give, we are lending to the Lord of eternal accounts and He will repay.

We also see this promise from God under the old covenant:

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

                                                                                                       Malachi 3:10 

There are three indications in this passage that God repays over and above to those who sacrificially give. First, He says to test and see that as we bring our gifts if He will not open the windows of heaven for us. Living with open hands brings an abundance from heaven. Secondly, He says that He will pour out blessings. I want to encourage you to take a look at the passages throughout scripture that deal with the giving of God. The theme of these passages is that God gives in abundance. In other words, He pours out blessings, not trickles them out through an eyedropper. When we live as sacrificial givers, blessings will come and they will be poured out. Lastly, God says that these blessings will come until they overflow. Again we see language that demonstrates that it is impossible for us to out give God. He is generous and prospers those who live with open hands.

But in addition to Old Testament scripture and the very words of Christ, Paul also writes on the subject of lending to God through giving:

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do (give) just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.                                               

                                                                                           2 Corinthians 9:6-7 

The motive for why and how we give is as important as the giving itself. We need to understand that lending to the Lord should be accompanied by two important attitudes. One is that we should not give grudgingly. This simply means that we should not give reluctantly or with sorrow and grief. If we are biting our upper lip as we let go of the gift then perhaps we need to examine our giving attitude. But we should also give free from compulsion. Guilt tactics or shaming people to give is contrary to biblical giving. When we give because someone else has guilted us into it we are missing the blessing of lending to God. Paul instructs us to give “as we purpose in our hearts.” Giving should be something determined between God and the giver, not an outside party. But again, we see great reward for those who give cheerfully and liberally: 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed…

                                                                                                   2 Corinthians 9:8 

God is able to make “all grace abound” to those who give freely. Grace is the favor of God. I cannot think of a better and more exciting way of living than to enjoy the favor of God. And this favor brings with it “all sufficiency” so that we will have everything that we need to continue in this work of freely and sacrificially giving. God sees and knows what we are willing to let go of and He stands at the ready to repay abundantly. This cyclical principle of giving, receiving, and giving is for the express purpose of demonstrating the love of Christ to those in need.

We certainly do not give in order to get blessings back, but they will come nonetheless. It really is more fun watching God provide everything we need rather than striving to gain more. This type of living brings peace and contentment. There is no stress or worry about what is going on in the markets or what is going to happen tomorrow. When we give to the Lord, He protects and He provides. God loves a cheerful giver. When it comes to money, are you living with clinched fists or open hands? I highly recommend the latter!