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A New Kind of Giving


GOD’S CHARACTER

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" Psalm 86:15 (see also Psa 86:5; Exodus 34:6-7; Jonah 4:2).

God’s nature has many beautiful characteristics, and these "character traits" are passed on by way of inheritance to everyone born into His family - in the same way a child takes after his natural parents. In 2 Peter 1:4 we discover that we have been called to "share in God’s essential nature" (Phillips). The ministry of the Holy Spirit within us is to do a work of transformation so that we begin to mature spiritually, taking on the characteristics of our Father (Ephesians 5:1; Eph 4:32; Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:36; see also Ephesians 3:16, Eph 3:19-20). One of the greatest attributes of God’s character is expressed in the well-known verse:

"For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his one and only son..." (John 3:16). 1 John 4:16 says that "God is love", and we notice that God’s love is always associated with giving. And His love was of such a high order that it could only be expressed in the giving of His most treasured possession - His Son (Romans 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 John 4:9-10).

THE CHARACTER OF THE WORLD

"But mark this ...People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money ...without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God ..." 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (see also Romans 1:28-31; Phil 2:21).

The character of the world is totally contrary to God’s intention for mankind - for man was not created to please himself, but to please God (2 Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:8-10; Colossians 1:10). Since the unbeliever exists only on a natural level, these selfish desires are usually expressed in an unsatisfied longing for material possessions. The warning of the Lord is found in Luke 12:15:

" ...Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of his possessions."

THE CHARACTER OF GOD’S KINGDOM

The character of God has been declared to us in three ways:

In Creation

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without any excuse’" Romans 1:18-20 .

In God’s word

The expression of God’s loving character to the believer, as revealed in the Bible, is too wonderful for words. When we deserved judgment, Jesus died in our place. When we deserved a resounding verdict of "GUILTY!", God forgave and cleansed us. When we deserved rejection, God gave us life in His presence for all eternity as a free gift - with all the wonderful side-benefits that come with it (Ephesians 2:4-7; Eph 3:14-19). This kind of UNDESERVED GIVING is at the very heart of God’s nature and characterises the lifestyle of His kingdom. We have been birthed into that kingdom (Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28) and are now part of that lifestyle.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!..." 1 John 3:1.

In Jesus

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word" Hebrews 1:3 (see also 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Col 4:6; Colossians 1:15).

In Jesus we find the perfect illustration of God’s character. His words, His actions and His very reason for coming were all an expression of love, and as He walked upon the earth, he showed in great detail what the lifestyle of God’s kingdom is all about. As the time neared for him to face the horror of the cross, He said to His disciples: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The greatest expression of a giving heart is found in Jesus: He gave His very self. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" Phil 2:5-8.

THE LAW OF GENEROSITY

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge" Psalm 19:1-2 (read also Psa 19:3-4).

Everything that God created was a display of His creativity and character - including man. Just as there are physical laws that govern the universe, without which there would be chaos, God has also put into motion spiritual laws which govern life - principles which are an expression of God’s own nature. These principles, if kept, will reinforce a person’s life; if broken, they will destroy him. We were made in God’s own image (Genesis 1:26-27) and were designed to express the same principles that are contained in God’s character. One of these is the LAW OF GENEROSITY - the principle that "whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Corinthians 9:6). As evidence of their relationship with God, many people throughout Scripture displayed their Father’s nature of generosity:

Abraham (Genesis 14:8-20; Hebrews 7:1-2).

Israel (Exodus 25:1-8; Exo 36:2-7; 1 Chronicles 29:1-9) .

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10).

Early Christians (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35).

Macedonian church (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).

Philippian church (Phil 4:15-18; see also 1 John 3:17-18). "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" 2 Corinthians 3:18 (see also Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19; Colossians 3:10).

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