Brown's Daily Word 10-23-07

Good morning,
Praise the Lord for "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and for righteousness." All good and perfect gifts we have, are given to us by our Lord and Savior. He calls us and invites us to become giving and generous people.
American industrialist, Henry Ford, was once asked to donate money for the construction of a new medical facility. The billionaire pledged to donate $5,000. The next day in the newspaper, the headline read, "Henry Ford contributes $50,000 to the local hospital." The irate Ford was on the phone immediately to complain to the fund-raiser that he had been misunderstood. The fund-raiser replied that they would print a retraction in the paper the following day to read, "Henry Ford reduces his donation by $45,000." Realizing the poor publicity that would result, the industrialist agreed to the $50,000 contribution in return for the following: That above the entrance to the hospital was to be carved the biblical inscription: "I came among you and you took me in."
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God has given everything for our living, in this life and He has given us what it takes to make it to eternity. The greatest of all gifts is the sacrifice of His son Jesus on the cross. Giving doesn’t get any better than that. No matter how much we give back to God through the church or missions or by any others means, we will never outdistance His giving.
W.A. Criswell a great pastor and preacher of Texas of the last century, told of an ambitious young man who told his pastor he had promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, because it had become too costly.
The pastor replied, "I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, and then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00."
Have you ever heard of Jon M. Huntsman? He is a billionaire who gave $100 million dollars to help find a cure for cancer. Huntsman has gone through two bouts of cancer himself. He had prostate cancer in 1992 and then cancer of the mouth in 1993. It has been said that Huntsman could be a poster boy for old-fashioned values. He grew up in what he describes as a “humble and modest” home in Blackfoot, Idaho, the second of three sons of a schoolteacher and his wife.
HOW DID HE MAKE HIS BILLION DOLLARS? One thing was the “Big Mac” plastic burger box for McDonald’s. I think prior to that it was the egg carton and then came plastic bowls and plates for hospital use. His companies are in 23 different countries. Huntsman said, “I never dreamed that I would be in this position financially someday, nor did our family ever expect it, nor do I think, frankly, that we deserve it.”
“But it’s unfolded in such an incredible way, I feel maybe the good Lord intended me to utilize it for the betterment of human-kind. There’s no better explanation for someone to have picked potatoes as a kid and suddenly have a $4 to $5 billion dollar company in one lifetime.”
Huntsman has done a good thing. His giving has apparently been motivated by a gracious God. And so must our giving be. It’s been said that when we give we are most like God. This may very well be. Giving is one of the hardest things for most people to do, because we are taking away from ourselves, and self is very strong in all of us. SELF OFTEN DOMINATES AND CONTROLS.
Therefore, when it comes to giving in any form, let’s think in terms of becoming more like Christ who has given His all for us and to us.
Some years ago it was reported that Christians in America give 4 billion dollars a year to their churches. SOUND GOOD? It is good, and it sounds very good until you hear that those same Christian people spend something like 34 billion dollars a year on diet and exercise products.
I am reminded of the story about the wealthy, but very selfish lady who died and went to heaven. She was told that she would be taken to the house, which had been prepared for her. She passed by many beautiful mansions and saw in them, people whom in this life had been very poor and somewhat rejected by others. Finally, on the very outskirts of heaven she was shown a very small, rundown house and was told it was hers. She complained and protested, but she was told, “We’re sorry, but this is all we could do for you with the materials you sent up.”
I Timothy 6:18-19 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
What will our giving do? Apparently, we have some kind of account in heaven. The important thing is to make deposits and we do this by giving, not by saving or hoarding. Proverbs 11:24-25, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Goodness and kindness will always come back to you! They have a boomerang effect. What you sow is what you will reap. God will always take care of those who give to others.
J. L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who gave approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years, said, "The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord."
The Lord loves a hilarious giver. Give with a joyful spirit, because all that we have and all that we are is from our good and gracious Lord.
In Him,
Brown



The Divine Perfections.
How shall I praise th' eternal God,
That Infinite Unknown?
Who can ascend his high abode,
Or venture near his throne?

The great invisible! He dwells
Conceal'd in dazzling light:
But his all-searching eye reveals
The secrets of the night.

Those watchful eyes that never sleep,
Survey the world around;
His wisdom is the boundless deep,
Where all our thoughts are drown'd.

He knows no shadow of a change,
Nor alters his decrees;
Firm as a rock his truth remains,
To guard his promises.

Justice, upon a dreadful throne,
Maintains the rights of God;
While mercy sends her pardons down,
Bought with a Saviour's blood.

Now to my soul immortal King,
Speak some forgiving word;
Then `twill be double joy to sing
The glories of my Lord.
... Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II, #166