One thing the “faith preachers” get right is this – if we bless others God will heap blessings on us.
Not because he has to, but because he has graciously promised to. It may not be in the way we expect; we might not always reap cash for cash. But we will definitely reap. The God who promised we won’t lose our reward for giving a cup of cold water to a disciple won’t fail to bless us when we bless others, especially to the poor. Sooner or later, his blessings will overtake us like a tidal wave.
Here are a few reasons to give generously:
God promises you’ll be blessed for generosity to the needy.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. (Proverbs 14:21)
God may bless you financially or he may simply fill you with joy. Hey, I’ll take joy any day of the week.
Light will break in your darkness
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. (Psalm 112:4-5)
After crying out to God in prayer and seeking God in his word, the best thing to do when in a dark situation is to give to others. God promises it will be well with a generous person.
God will bless your children.
He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. (Psalm 37:26)
Note this says our children “become” a blessing. It may not happen overnight. But in addition to continuing to pray for our children, give and keep giving, and pray for God to fulfill this promise.
God will protect, deliver, and restore you
Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. (Psalm 41:1-3)
God will be honored
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. (Proverbs 14:31)
When we honor God, he honors us. He does this because generosity to those less fortunate reflects his gracious, generous character.
God considers your giving to the poor as a personal gift to him, which he will be faithful to repay.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. (Proverbs 19:17 ESV)
The poor won’t usually be able to pay us back, but God will make sure he does.
Others will water you
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:25)
You will reap in the same way you give.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
God will increase your capacity for every kind of good work.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:8-9)
God will enrich you to be increasingly generous.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)
Not only will we increase in generosity, but our blessing others will result in them giving thanks and praise to God.