OCCUPY TILL I COME – IN GIVING: FOR GOD’S LOVED-WORLD – IS A GIVING WORLD DEFINITION!
“For God so LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
God’s LOVED-WORLD is an awesome world of LOVE — therefore, do not be SELFISH about it.
To many, the opposite of LOVE may be HATE or HATRED. On the contrary, in God’s scriptural kingdom, the opposite of LOVE is SELFISHNESS — being selfish, covetous, hoarding and greedy.
“GIVE, and it shall be GIVEN unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men GIVE into your bosom. For with the SAME MEASURE that ye mete withal it shall be MEASURED to you again” Luke 6:38.
The LOVED-WORLD of God is made to be liveable, likeable, loveable and enjoyable because of the act of GIVING that takes place every now and then.
For example, the plants GIVE out oxygen to RECEIVE or TAKE IN carbon dioxide for their photosynthesis. In the same way are humans and all living creation. We GIVE out carbon dioxide and TAKE IN oxygen to keep our human body alive and to keep life in check.
This cycle keeps life going every day. It’s a GIVING world, hence it’s a LOVED-WORLD and it’s LIKEABLE, LIVEABLE, LOVEABLE, REACHABLE, INDESCRIBABLE and ENJOYABLE.
“There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet INCREASES all the more; And there is the one who WITHHOLDS what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty. 25 The GENEROUS man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched, And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown]
. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], But a BLESSING [from God and man] is upon the HEAD of him who SELLS it” Proverbs 11:24-26/Amplified.
God so LOVED, He GAVE. Genuine LOVE GIVES. Where God’s LOVE is, GIVING goes along. Giving could be in the form of one’s TIME, FINANCE, PHYSIQUE (strength), TALENT, VISITATIONS, MATERIAL GIFT, SPIRITUAL CARE and such like, and more to the one in need.
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God” 2 Corinthians 9:6-12.
For it is MORE BLESSED to GIVE than to RECEIVE, for givers NEVER go down no matter what — this I know so well. And that is the kingdom principle which also works in the natural world. I saw it in my parents as a child, and now I live experiencing it daily. Acts 20:35
“I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECIEVE” Acts 20:35.
Therefore, do a self-check and be a GIVER today: For God’s LOVED world is a GIVING world — and our passion to help people when they are falling should outweigh our intent to crucify them when they fall.
THERE’S NO ROOM FOR SELFISHNESS, HOARDING AND WITHHOLDING, in order to enjoy the unspeakable gift of God’s given joy that’s in Christ Jesus’ stead.
Amen.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
“I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECIEVE” Acts 20:35.
“There is that SCATTERETH, and yet INCREASETH; and there is that WITHHOLDETH more than is meet, but it tendeth to POVERTY. 25 The LIBERAL soul shall be MADE fat: and he that WATERETH shall be WATERED also himself. 26 He that WITHHOLDETH corn, the people shall CURSE him: but BLESSING shall be upon the HEAD of him that SELLETH it” Proverbs 11:24-26.
“For God is not UNJUST so as to FORGET your WORK and the LOVE which you have SHOWN for His name in MINISTERING to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do. 11 And we desire for each one of you to SHOW the same DILIGENCE [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] IMITATORS of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] INHERITING the promises” Hebrews 6:10-12/Amplified.
“Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]. Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. [Prov 22:9] And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. As it is written and forever remains written, “He [the benevolent and generous person] scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever!” [Ps 112:9] Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love]. [Is 55:10; Hos 10:12] You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this [generosity, administered] through us is producing thanksgiving to God [from those who benefit]. For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying the needs of the saints (God’s people), but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. Because of this act of ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to the gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous participation [in this gift] for them and for all [the other believers in need], and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace [His undeserved favor, mercy, and blessing which is revealed] in you. Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]” 2 Corinthians 9:6-15/Amplified.
SUMMARY:
The message is a charge titled “OCCUPY TILL I COME – IN GIVING: FOR GOD’S LOVED-WORLD – IS A GIVING WORLD”.
It teaches that God’s nature is to LOVE and to GIVE, therefore the world He made is designed to function on GIVING. Selfishness is the opposite of Love, and only a lifestyle of giving makes life LIVEABLE, LOVEABLE and BLESSED. We are called to occupy till Christ comes by being GIVERS, because genuine Love always gives.
KEY POINTS
- THE FOUNDATION: GOD’S LOVED-WORLD IS A GIVING WORLD
God’s Example – John 3:16 “For God so LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE His only begotten Son…”
Where God’s LOVE is, GIVING goes along.
Creation’s Example – Plants GIVE oxygen and RECEIVE CO2. Humans GIVE CO2 and RECEIVE oxygen.
This cycle proves it’s a GIVING world, making it LIKEABLE, LIVEABLE, LOVEABLE, REACHABLE, INDESCRIBABLE and ENJOYABLE.
- THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS NOT HATE, BUT SELFISHNESS
In God’s scriptural kingdom, the opposite of LOVE is SELFISHNESS — being selfish, covetous, hoarding and greedy.
THERE’S NO ROOM FOR SELFISHNESS, HOARDING AND WITHHOLDING if we want to enjoy the unspeakable gift of God’s joy in Christ Jesus.
- THE PRINCIPLES OF GIVING
The Law of Sowing and Reaping – Luke 6:38; 2 Cor 9:6
“GIVE, and it shall be GIVEN unto you… With the SAME MEASURE that ye mete withal it shall be MEASURED to you again.”
“He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
Generosity Brings Increase – Proverbs 11:24-26
“The GENEROUS man shall be prosperous and enriched… The LIBERAL soul shall be MADE fat.”
Withholding leads to want and poverty. Blessing is upon the head of him that gives/sells.
The Blessing of Giving – Acts 20:35
“IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” Givers NEVER go down. This is both a kingdom principle and a natural principle.
- WHAT GIVING LOOKS LIKE
Giving is not just money. It can be in the form of one’s TIME, FINANCE, PHYSIQUE (strength), TALENT, VISITATIONS, MATERIAL GIFT, SPIRITUAL CARE and such like, and more to the one in need. 2 Corinthians 9:6-12
Give cheerfully, purposefully, and not grudgingly.
God is able to make all grace abound so you have sufficiency in all things and an abundance for every good work.
Your giving supplies the needs of the saints and produces thanksgiving to God. Hebrews 6:10-12
- PERSONAL TESTIMONY & EVIDENCE
“I saw it in my parents as a child, and now I live experiencing it daily.”
The principle works. Givers are blessed, liberal, prudent and passionate.
CALL TO ACTION
- DO A SELF-CHECK TODAY: Examine your heart. Are you a GIVER or a WITHHOLDER?
- CHOOSE TO BE A GIVER: Develop a passion to help people when they are falling, rather than an intent to crucify them when they fall.
- GIVE CHEERFULLY AND PURPOSEFULLY: Let each one give as he purposes in his heart — of your TIME, TALENT, FINANCE, CARE and more. 2 Corinthians 9:7
- OCCUPY IN GIVING: This is how we fulfil “OCCUPY TILL I COME”. Live out God’s Love by giving, so that God’s LOVED-WORLD remains a GIVING WORLD through you.
- EXPECT GOD’S BLESSING: As you scatter and water others, God will multiply your seed, enrich you in everything for all liberality, and cause thanksgiving to God through you.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
Leave a Reply