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Giving, All Of It
by Kurt Green
Last year I attended a conference called the Mindset Mentoring Conference, where a gentleman named Arch Bonnema spoke. He was talking about what God has taught him about giving. Mr. Bonnema and his wife felt the Lord lead them to increase their monthly giving and time substantially. They had just started a new business, and it wasn’t the best idea to give more according to the worlds standards. They made the commitment to give anyway. Over the next five years, they went through their entire savings, as well as their retirement. They sold basically everything but their house, and they kept their commitment to give. Then God blessed them. Their business exploded, and they were able to give more than they ever had. When I heard that they were willing to deplete their savings, retirement, sell all but the essentials in order to keep giving, I was convicted. Am I willing to do that? Is your savings account open to God? Your retirement? Are your Investments available? It is so easy for us to think, “I worked hard to build this, and I deserve to have this money to use as I please”. I am convinced that when we as believers truly open our hands and hearts to God, and make all of our resources available to Him, poverty as we know it will be eliminated. Food, clothing, and medicine will be available to all who need it. The great commission will be fulfilled.
It starts with me. It starts with you… James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” I think us as Christians overlook the first part and just read “keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” God has given us the responsibility to care for the poor and needy. People are dying constantly in hopelessness and we could change that.
I’m not suggesting that everyone should pull all of their retirement out and give it to helping take care of the needy, and spread the gospel………Ok, maybe I am:). Seriously, I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. Ask God to give you a burning desire to give. Ask him to lead you to specific things that he wants you to give to. Then when he shows you, do it.
About The Author: Kurt Green is a business owner and Christian Entrepreneurial Mentor. To learn more about Kurt go to:
http://sowinggenerously.blogspot.com
http://advantageconferences.com/kurt
These articles on lifestyle and more
Return to the selection of giving
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://www.casefoundation.org/spotlight/giving
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/home/giving/index.html
http://www.nytimes.com/specials/giving/index.html
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!
Last year I attended a conference called the Mindset Mentoring Conference, where a gentleman named Arch Bonnema spoke. He was talking about what God has taught him about giving. Mr. Bonnema and his wife felt the Lord lead them to increase their monthly giving and time substantially. They had just started a new business, and it wasn’t the best idea to give more according to the worlds standards. They made the commitment to give anyway. Over the next five years, they went through their entire savings, as well as their retirement. They sold basically everything but their house, and they kept their commitment to give. Then God blessed them. Their business exploded, and they were able to give more than they ever had. When I heard that they were willing to deplete their savings, retirement, sell all but the essentials in order to keep giving, I was convicted. Am I willing to do that? Is your savings account open to God? Your retirement? Are your Investments available? It is so easy for us to think, “I worked hard to build this, and I deserve to have this money to use as I please”. I am convinced that when we as believers truly open our hands and hearts to God, and make all of our resources available to Him, poverty as we know it will be eliminated. Food, clothing, and medicine will be available to all who need it. The great commission will be fulfilled.
It starts with me. It starts with you… James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” I think us as Christians overlook the first part and just read “keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” God has given us the responsibility to care for the poor and needy. People are dying constantly in hopelessness and we could change that.
I’m not suggesting that everyone should pull all of their retirement out and give it to helping take care of the needy, and spread the gospel………Ok, maybe I am:). Seriously, I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. Ask God to give you a burning desire to give. Ask him to lead you to specific things that he wants you to give to. Then when he shows you, do it.
About The Author: Kurt Green is a business owner and Christian Entrepreneurial Mentor. To learn more about Kurt go to:
http://sowinggenerously.blogspot.com
http://advantageconferences.com/kurt
These articles on lifestyle and more
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Return to the selection of giving
You may want to try these websites for additional information
http://www.casefoundation.org/spotlight/giving
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/home/giving/index.html
http://www.nytimes.com/specials/giving/index.html
The information provided in this article is the express opinion of the author. Exchangenet is not responsible for the content!