''Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s blessing, in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purses and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors" - Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (MSG)
Once upon a time, a greedy rich man hired a great mathematician. The rich man wanted the mathematician to find the best way for him to make the greatest profit in everything he did. The rich man had built a huge safe and his greatest dream was to fill it with gold. The mathematician was shut away for months in his study, before he finally appeared at the rich man’s house, with a big smile on his face: “I found it!” he said, “I have discovered the best way to make maximum profit in life.”
The rich man was going on a long journey the next day and didn’t have time to listen. He promised the mathematician he would pay him double his wages if he would take charge of the business while he was away and put the new method into practice. Excited by his new discovery, the mathematician was delighted to accept. When the rich man returned months later, he discovered all his possessions were gone. Furious, he went to ask for an explanation from the mathematician. The mathematician calmly told him what he had done. He had given everything away to people.
The rich man couldn’t believe it, but the mathematician explained it. “For months, I analyzed how a rich man could gain the maximum profit, but what I could do was always limited. There’s a limit to how much one man can do by himself. Then I understood that the key was that many people could help us to achieve the aim. So the conclusion was that helping others was the best way to get maximum profit in life” Disappointed and furious, the greedy man stormed off, desperate at having lost everything to the hare-brained schemes of the stupid mathematician.
However, while he was walking away disconsolately, several neighbours ran over, worried about him. All of them had been helped when the mathematician shared out the rich man’s fortune. They felt so grateful to him that they offered him the hospitality of their houses and anything special the rich man might need. Over the next few days, he saw the full result of what the mathematician had calculated. Wherever he went, he was received with great honour and everyone was willing to help him in whatever way they could.
In this way, he managed to quickly set up flourishing
businesses, but this time he followed the brilliant mathematician’s advice. No
longer did he keep his riches in a safe, or anything like it. Instead, he
shared out his fortune among a hundred friends, whose hearts he had converted
into the safest, most grateful, and fruitful organized safes.
The above story illustrates the method the disciples used in Acts 2: 44-47 to trigger great profit in the early church. They were so smart to know that the safest place on earth is not the bank but the hands and hearts of men. They shared what they had with everyone instead of keeping it away in their safes. The disciples simply organised the first ''Jesus Supermarket'' in the church so that many peoples' needs can be met. The question is why did they organize such a program? I believe they knew that generosity unleashes ceaseless flow of blessings while stinginess is a demon supervising the agenda of poverty. This must have prompted God to warn the Israelites about guiding their hearts jealousy against the invasion of the demon of stinginess and selfishness in their midst (Deuteronomy 15:10-12).
Beloved, in what ways has God blessed you this year? Have
you been tight-fisted in sharing what you have? When was the last time you
helped the needy around you? How secure are those many huge safes you have built for yourself and your household? Before you attempt to answer these
questions, please meditate on this thought-provoking poem below:
THING GOD WILL NOT ASK (Author Unknown)
God won't ask what kind of car you drove;
He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have
transportation.
God won't ask the square footage of your house;
He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet;
He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
God won't ask what your highest salary was;
He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
God won't ask what your job title was;
He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of our
ability.
God won't ask how many friends you had;
He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived;
He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.
God won't ask about the color of your skin;
He'll ask about the content of your character.
God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation;
He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven and not to
the gates of Hell.
Dear friend, what will be your response to the questions that God will ask you when you finally leave this world. If Jesus Christ returns today, are you sure you will not be a big disappointment to Heaven? Please examine your heart closely and be ready to do the needful henceforth.
In case you are not yet born again or you are a backslider, the Gates of Hell is beckoning you. To escape the horrible pains in Hell, you must embrace the gift of salvation that Jesus Christ bought for us with His precious blood. Please do it now since there is no repentance in the grave (Hebrews 9:27).
Good day, Merry Christmas, and a prosperous new year in advance.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
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