For God
"The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
These words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 25:40 were to let us know how much and how personally The Lord Himself views acts of giving we as believers do. Today we're going to look into this and other verses of encouragement that we can relate to giving in our finances.
This first verse is so awesome, in that it is relaying now, exactly one of the "scenes" that will take place in the time to come... that in His complete knowledge of us He is regarding every single instance we reached out in love towards others. The preceding verses were of the acts of kindness done, in giving food, drink, lodging, clothing and by visiting and caring. Some of those acts involved giving of time and effort, and others had an actual cost.
That cost of giving generously to others in the name of the Lord, is simply immeasurable in three ways: (1) The impression it can make on the other person towards the Lord, it can reshape their view of God, that they really are loved by Him. (2) The advancing of His kingdom here on earth. (3) Those treasures are now being stored in heaven, as we'll cover in our next verses below.
"Do not gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal." (Matthew 6:20)
Jesus was simply illustrating the difference between two ways of handling treasure - that all we gather on earth is eventually destroyed, and all we gather (give or use) towards heaven will last eternally. This flows with the first verse of Him remembering our acts of kindness being regarded as unto the Lord, and here stating He remembers the treasures we chose to yield to Him.
The ways He wants to personally relate to us and us to Him, come through shining below.
"Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men" (Colossians 3:23). We can receive strength, encouragement and a lifting of our burden in doing our occupation working onto the Lord.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My House. And test Me now with this," says the Lord of Hosts, "if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour you out a blessing without measure." (Malachi 3:10). See how personally God is speaking to us in giving, and how He will respond Himself?
"Come to me, all of you who weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". (Matthew 11:28). Cast your burdens, financial and otherwise on Him, and receive the peace and rest He promises.
And lastly, be encouraged that our God knows all and will remember your efforts:
God is not unjust, he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10)
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
