Reference: James 2:14-18 and Luke 6:38
Isn't it amazing how so many people arealways going about searching for what is thought to be termed as a "gooddeal"? There are always a lot of people who stand ready to take advantageof something that will profit them more than what they have put into something.Have you ever wondered just how many people buy the lottery tickets that are onsale just about everywhere you may go shopping? Thousands of people are buyingthese tickets for a dollar because they have a chance of winning thousands iftheir number is chosen. This is why so many people are participating in statelotteries. Any type of businessman is in business solely to make a profit onthe type of product that they sell. Nobody's in business just to be helpful tosomeone's needs unless the business is what is called a non-profitorganization, such as a church etc. A person cannot stay in business very longif they do not make a profit. The profit that a person makes goes toward thethings that is needed to sustain life etc. There are many people who go as faras to make money not caring how they do it. A gambler takes the chance oflosing all his money on certain things such as the race tracks, card games,bets on ball games etc.
It all boils down to the fact that people are alwaystrying to make a profit on what they are willing to sacrifice. Isn't it amazingthough how few people there are that will believe what the Bible says aboutgiving in order to receive more in abundance? What person is it that doesn'ttry to make a profit in what they are willing to sacrifice? My friend, if youare the type of person that may buy tickets on a lottery, or place a bet on acertain horse, you are the type of person that is placing a sacrifice onsomething that is not a sure thing. And also you are going against what theword of God says about placing your confidence in things that cannot prosper inthe long run. Did you know that trust in the word of God is a sure and positivething? Have you ever made a sacrifice by your giving to someone in need? If youare a believer in God and his word why then do you pass up the opportunity togive in order that you may receive more in abundance? The apostle James tellsus that faith without works is dead being alone. Did you know that genuinefaith is proven by your works? It is utterly impossible for you to reveal faithother than by putting it into action with works. Can you show me anotherpromise of God written in the Bible that is a lot more wonderful than what hesays about giving to receive more back in return? All of God's promises arewonderful as you should know. If you believe the account where Jesus multipliedthe fishes and the loaves of bread why then would you doubt that God would seeto it that you would receive more than what you are willing to give? Are youaware of the fact that you will not receive in abundance from God if yourintentions are not what they should be? You cannot give your money to supportjust any kind of a work that is not in accord with the truth of the Bible.There are thousands of preachers on the radio simply begging for people to sendthem money so that they can do this or that etc. My friend, are you aware ofthe fact that there are many things that you may be giving to that will notprofit you at all in the spiritual realm? The word God says in Jeremiah 23:31-32these words, "Behold, I amagainst the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, Hesaith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord,and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by theirlightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall notprofit this people at all, saith the Lord." My friend, are you one that seems to give to thisorganization or to that organization thinking that you are being led of theLord? Did you know that there are thousands of false prophets in the worldtoday that will milk you dry of what you may have and it will profit younothing at all? If you are the type of person that may think your giving isgoing for a good cause, whether you are benefited in this life or not, andthinking that God sees your giving and you will inherit eternal life for it,then you are deceiving yourself. All your giving will be in vain if you thinkit will merit your salvation for life eternal. The gift of eternal life cannotbe received by any type of good works that you may do. If you are notbenefiting from your giving in this life, how then could it be possible foryour giving and your other good works that you may have, merit you anything asfar as the next life is concerned? Myfriend, if your giving, and any other of your works are not benefiting you inthis natural life, then the chances are that you are not giving your alms forthe right thing. The word of God says to give and it shall be given back to youin a measure that has been pressed down and running over. If you don't believethat you will be blessed for your giving, then you certainly will not bewilling to give to those who are in need. My friend, if you are going to givealms then why do you not make sure that you are doing it only for the purposethat you know that the Heavenly Father will be pleased? When you give, you mustdo it as how the word of God reveals or else you will not receive any rewardfrom Almighty God. If you do your alms in the sight of men then you willcertainly not receive any reward from the Heavenly Father. There are manypeople who are willing to give but they do it grudgingly instead of with acheerful attitude. The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver. From thisstatement you should understand that God rewards them that give with a cheerfulheart and not those who give not really wanting to. The word of God says in II Corinthians 9:7-8 thesewords, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God isable to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having allsufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." If you havefaith then your putting it into action will bring results, but if you say youhave faith but you fail to put it into action, then your faith will be dead andworthless. Your obedience to the word is what what brings the blessings. Truefaith is believing that God will prosper you if you do his will. My friend, areyou buying that which seems not to profit you at all? (Proverbs 23:23)