THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL; THIS IS A COMMAND. Christ is not just asking us to give money. He is asking us to give of our life, of our time, of our talents and skills, and of our treasures.
Gleaning from Luke chapter 6, here are several reasons WHY WE GIVE:
1. WE GIVE BECAUSE WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF HIS MERCY. (click here to read this)
2. WE GIVE SO THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE HOW GOD GIVES. (click here to read this)
3. WE GIVE BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIGHT, "HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT" AND WE WANT TO LEAD OTHERS TO HIM WHO CAN DELIVER THEM FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS. (click here to read this)
4. WE GIVE BECAUSE WE ARE HIS FOLLOWERS/DISCIPLES WHO EMULATE FROM OUR MASTER. (click here to read this)
5. WE GIVE BECAUSE GOD HAS TRANSFORMED US FROM BEING AN EVIL MAN TO A GOOD MAN.
Luke 6.45 declares, "A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
Formerly, we were not righteous; we were not good (Romans 3.10, 12). But when Christ became our Lord and Savior, the old things are passed away; all things become new (II Corinthians 5.17). In Christ, we are saved, redeemed, forgiven, sealed with the Holy Spirit to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1.6-13).
Sinless? NO! Forgiven? YES! Redeemed? YES! ALL BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
