Dr Paul Allen

  Paul had been gathering material help for the Jerusalem church. The Corinthians had been tardy in contributing. Paul now challenges them. His conception of Christian giving is a lofty one. It was a “grace”, a ministry of the Holy Spirit inwrought in personal experience and outwrought in practical expression. Corinth abounded in everything else, but lacked here. Paul challenges them with two examples. Firstly, the Macedonians, vv. 1–6. They were in deep poverty and had experienced affliction, yet there was unselfish devotedness, loving others better than themselves. Despite poverty, they had shown liberality and had given spontaneously (“willing of themselves”). They had begged permission to help, and exceeded Paul’s expectations, even “beyond their power”, v. 3.  L ove does not calculate what it can spare, or what it can afford. What was the secret? “They first gave their own selves to the Lord”, v. 5. Their giving was the outward expression of their inward devotion. First ...

James was concerned about believers who did not know how to face their many trials and troubles. If any lacked the necessary wisdom to bear and make proper use of their afflictions, he said they were to ‘ask of God’. By way of encouragement, James described Him as the One who gives without reservation (liberally) or reproach (upbraideth not). God gives unreservedly. He gives ‘richly’, 1 Tim. 6:16, ‘freely’, Rom. 8:32 and ‘liberally’ (with singleness of heart, lit). God’s resources are not simply great; they are infinite. In response to my requests, He gives and I receive. Yet, although thereby I am so much richer, He is not one whit poorer. Usually, when I receive something good (cf. verse 17) from somebody else, I end up with more and they with less. But not so with answered prayer.  Notwithstanding all God’s bountiful giving, His store is not in the least diminished. If I come to Him for help or strength or whatever, I need never fear that my taking is going to impoverish Him. Hi...

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. - John 12:3-6 OUTWARD FOCUSED PEOPLE ARE GENEROUS PEOPLE This is a powerful story, for many reasons. One of those reasons is because it illustrates very clearly one of the differences between the nature of God and the nature of the devil: God’s nature is generosity; Satan’s nature is selfishness. God wants to give to us, to love us, and to bless us. He gave us the ultimate gift, His only son. Satan wants to take. His nature is to steal, kill, and destroy. We have to realize that a battle rages with...