As we near the time of Giving Thanks, I want to share with you some thoughts.

I recently heard a story about a Sunday School teacher who asked her class if they knew the difference between kindness and loving kindness. One little girl said she knew the difference. She told the teacher that kindness is like when you ask your mother for some toast and she offers you a piece of toast, but loving kindness is when you ask your mother for some toast and she offers it to you with butter and jelly on it.

Generosity always creates Generosity.  For a believer, it is a part of our spiritual DNA. To say it is more blessed to give than to receive is making a statement to speak of God’s ordained plan.  Apostle Paul says, “I’m looking for the profit that increases to your account” (Philippians 4:17). These terms were common accounting words. Paul is saying that when you give to the Kingdom, you’re making an investment in that which is both temporal and eternal.

In the earliest Biblical accounts, the primary form of worship of God was by building an altar and offering the first fruits of one’s labors on that altar. Remember that the offering of an animal or grain, bread, oil, was the same as us proposing our best for the Lord today.  The offering had ‘blood, sweat, and tears mixed in!   Leviticus 27:30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.”  “Holy unto the Lord”, means it was set apart for the Lord’s pleasure and it was offered for the Lord’s purpose.

Moses describes his fellow Hebrews as being pleasing to God. Why? Because God saw in their giving the kind of love that reflected his love for them; and saw in the gift something of themselves and a commitment to follow His leading.  Paul says this kind of devotion is a “fragrant aroma, well pleasing to God” Philippians 4:18.

Giving Thanks is all about coming to terms with all that we have!

We desired “toast”, God was gracious and added butter, jelly, sprinkles, etc…    Come Sunday Let us give thanks for his “indescribable gift” 2 Corinthians 9:15.  Growing Stronger in Christ Together!