Generous Life - Day 25
Hello Everyone, I trust that you are having a good day. I hope that you are enjoying the Generous Life study. It's hard to believe that we are more than half-way through the forty days. Today's truth is that "God can do great things through one person or group that is devoted to Him." This truth is seen in numerous places of Scripture, but there are also many examples in our lives today. This principle reminds me of a Germon preacher named August Francke.
In the latter part of the 17th century, August Francke founded an orphanage to care for the homeless children of Halle. One day when Francke desperately needed funds to carry on his work, a destitute Christian widow came to his door begging for a ducat--a gold coin. Because of his financial situation, he politely but regretfully told her he couldn't help her. Disheartened, the woman began to weep. Moved by her tears, Francke asked her to wait while he went to his room to pray. After seeking God's guidance, he felt that the Holy Spirit wanted him to change his mind. So, trusting the Lord to meet his own needs and the needs of the orphanage, he gave her the money. Two mornings later, he received a letter of thanks from the widow. She explained that because of his generosity she had asked the Lord to shower the orphanage with gifts. That same day Francke received 12 ducats from a wealthy lady in the community and 2 more from a friend in Sweden. He thought he had been amply rewarded for helping the widow, but he was soon informed that the orphanage was to receive 500 gold pieces from the estate of Prince Lodewyk Van Wurtenburg. When he heard this, Francke wept in gratitude. In sacrificially providing for that needy widow, he had been enriched, not impoverished.
I believe that many of us would be amazed if we would trust the Lord and honor Him with our generosity. The promise of Luke 6:38 is still applicable today. Like Francke, let's seek the Lord's will concerning our giving and then commit to obey regardless of the cost. I assure you that in doing so you will discover that you can't outgive God!
Generously Living for CHRIST,
Pastor Matthew
