Ever looked into the 38 parables of Jesus.. context and all? So interesting. I don’t mean to hyper-spiritualize em as so many like to do. I don't mean for readin’ into them what’s not really there.

1. Two houses in a hurricane. (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49)
2. Forgiving the $5000 and the $500. (Luke 7:41-42)
3. Subduing a strong man. (Mark 3:22-30)
4. The sower, the seed, and the soil. (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15)
5. Weeds among the wheat. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
6. From scattering to sickling. (Mark 4:26-29)
7. The mighty mustard seed. (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)
8. The cooks leaven and the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21)
9. Finding a fortune in a field. (Matthew 13:44)
10. The price of a pearl. (Matthew 13:45-46)
11. Sorting out a sea catch. (Matthew 13:47-50)
12. A trained man and his treasure. (Matthew 13:52)
13. Patching garments and old wineskins. (Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22; Luke 5:36-39)
14. A generation of gripers. (Matthew. 11:16-19; Luke 7: 31-35)
15. The forgiven who wouldn't forgive. (Matthew 18:23-35)
16. The good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37)
17. Seven spirits and a swept house. (Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26)
18. A fool gets rich on earth but not in heaven. (Luke 12:16-21)
19. Fatten your purse in heaven and be ready for the Lord's return. (Luke 12:32-40; Matthew 24:43-44)
20. A sinning servant and a returning ruler. (Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48)
21. A fruitless fig tree. (Luke 13:6-9)
22. Choosing the least at a wedding feast. (Luke 14:7-11)
23. Filling the guest list for a wedding feast. (Luke 14:15-24)
24. Finding lost sheep, missing silver and a lost son. (Luke 15:1-32)
25. The stewings of a steward. (Luke 16:1-13)
26. Lazarus and the rich man. (Luke 16:19-31)
27. When our best is but the least. (Luke 17:7-10)
28. A widow and a weary judge. (Luke 18:1-8)
29. A haughty Pharisee and a humble publican. (Luke 18:9-14)
30. When the last was first and the first was last. (Matthew 20: 1-16)
31. Three stewards and their silver. (Luke 19:11-27)
32. Two sons who changed their minds. (Matthew 21:28-32)
33. The vicious vinekeepers. (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 21:9-19)
34. A wedding guest with no wedding garment. (Matthew 22:1-14)
35. The fig tree and the future. (Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33)
36. The 10 bridesmaids and the lamps. (Matthew 25:1-13)
37. Three stewards and their talents. (Matthew 25:14-30)
38. Separating the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Parables, they make me wanna study giving more, and yes gain more of a heart of generosity really. It must be from the grace through reading the Word cuz it sure ain't from my fleshly nature. But Jesus Christ had and still has a heart like that.

I say pray earnestly, have faith, and give your faith away as the Holy Spirit leads you to. Jesus did that and God the Father sure remaind faithful. 

"Give, and it will be given to you..."  ~ Jesus 

Originally posted by holytemple

Sow sparingly reap in kind. Yup. Sow otherwise, reap bountifully. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart (as they have decided), so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make ALL grace abound toward you; that ye, ALWAYS having ALL sufficiency in ALL things, may abound to every good work” 2 Corinthians 9:8 #emph.mine

Some people don’t give cuz they are not careful. Paul said “be careful to fulfill it”, and some people don’t give because they just aren’t able. Nobody has nothing. if you have $100 and if you don’t pay your rent with that you’re in the cold long term. “..according to what one has, not according to what someone doesn’t have. God expects of us a willing heart, not what we are not capable of doing.

“Jesus told 38 parables and 12 of those parables touched on giving. Yes, and 1 in 6 New Testament Bible verses deals with some sort of giving.” ~ David Jeremiah 

Do you have a willing heart? To give anywhere? To give a witness or testimony? Sure you do, you tip the waiter right? (And I don’t mean regarding me. I have enough honest). Go tell your story of what God has done in your life! 

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” ~ Jesus

Q. Do you trust Christ with your eternity, but not yet to get you through this week? But Kurt, think about it. God let’s believers suffer too. True. He doesn’t really mind too much.. Christians suffering loss..or suffering anything like seriously being ripped off like from persecution, like from really bad health issues. 

Hey, all people suffer here on earth and God hurts with them. He sometimes lets it happen for a good purpose. True, and sinners watch how believers suffer differently that unbelievers suffer. I have hurt too much and been ripped off too many times said I. God still longs to bless all of us with Heaven for real. 

But Kurt, the pastors.. even in some healthy mega or non-mega churches travel more and live better than me or my relatives. You know, with their affluent lifestyles as they keep asking us to obey God as they should. Don’t mind them asking to keep things going cuz many great things are getting done in Jesus’ Name and some are getting born again. But sometimes they too fail badly. Don’t want to feel bad about I’ve failed before -- it was partly my fault sometimes, and other times it was fully my fault. Where is the recovering all, and the God who restores (Rom 8:28-29)? 

He is there understanding with you, hurting too with tears, wanting to hear your candor, longing to heal and bless -- He’ll never leave us or forsake us, believers. 

We want to give to Him ultimately.. give to healthy local churches led by Him and His spiritual non-selfish pastors, and give to the needy as the Spirit leads us. I have met so many sound Christian Pastors who for decades sacrificially give to impact those around the world. 

Tithing, offerings, giving.. not always so easy as rolling off a log especially when there’s been spiritual abuse in the past, or church-hurt that runs deep from cold religious so called churches. We can still trust the Lord during these last days of trials, of ISIS and of harvesting and other persecutions. Think about it. Some people must still help fund the Great Commission work -- people (each from a willing heart as God directs) that receive from Christ. Have you left your first-love for some reason? Come back to Jesus. Become spiritually strong. Pray about it. 

“Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”  2 Corinthians 8:7 

“Teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1-13 

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”  Ephesians 3:20 

“Money tends to separate us in our culture, and that’s unfortunate because I’m just like you.I get up every day, spend time with God, kiss my wife, eat some breakfast, and go to work. I’m just a man. I started my career working retail, stocking shelves. I got married and started a family. I’ve lost sleep wondering about the future of my wife and kids.Now I’m entering that area of the baton exchange, and I want to do it well. I want us all to do it well.” ~ David Green, FOUNDER & CEO OF HOBBY LOBBY, A GREAT CHRISTIAN  

David Green has taken a lot of heat from the former DC Administration, but his business wisdom is surpassed only by his loyal integrity and faith in Christ! 

Legally we own stuff here, but we’re not owners really, we are managers as believers. David Green believes that generosity and building a legacy based on giving can lead to getting back what you really want: a family that stays together, prays together, and shares life joyfully. He sees the life of giving as a life of adventure. But it’s a life that pays the best rewards personally, offers a powerful legacy to your family, and changes those you touch. 

“David has publicly taken courageous moral stands with Hobby Lobby, a company he founded, but which he knows belongs to God. I loved this wonderful book of wise and integrity-permeated perspectives on God-honoring values in the workplace, enduring family legacies, and heartfelt joy and enduring rewards of giving." ~ Randy Alcorn  

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  Philippians 4:11 

God the Son, the Father and Spirit -- kind givers! Think of the Cross where Jesus gave it all for you and me. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19  

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”  2 Corinthians 9:7 

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”  2 Corinthians 9:6 

“Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.”  2 Corinthians 9:5 

Out-dream yourself in the Lord, yes more than you have before. Dream again, appropriate Christ's healing grace. Pray for a new passion, a fresh anointing, a hunger for the Word, and a clear vision so to speak.. of what God wants you to be and do. He is more than able to meet your needs. Yes, give your life to Christ today. Start with Him. You can’t out-give Him.   

The Bible teaches us that God is faithful cuz He really is. “(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.”  2 Corinthians 9:9  

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ~ Jesus 

During perilous times of crisis and fear, we tend to look for a leader in whose courage we can rely and in whose words, we can trust. The problem is, of course, that human leaders are fallible. So many have failed. Though their words often inspire us, their lives are imperfect. Their oratory may inflame us, but their thoughts are finite.

We need a kind Leader who never falters, whose words are true, whose power is wisely administered, and whose giving and promises never fail. We do have such a Leader, for we have the Lord Jesus! We can fully trust Him, and this kind of faith and love springing up from a relationship with Him.. literally drives out fear. His plans and purposes can be relied upon.

We rely on this eternal person. Don’t misunderstand me when I say our faith isn’t primarily in God’s Bible (pages), but in the living Word, in His person. Yes, we do trust the Bible words. But the reason the Bible is so trustworthy is because its Author is SO unfailing. The reason we rely on His good written promises is because He gives what's good and cannot lie. Our God is eternally unchanging, very giving, truthful, omniscient, and faithful, so His promises and precepts are that same way. Scripture didn’t breathe out God for us, but God breathed out the Scripture for us; and the reason we study the Bible is to obey, to grow spiritually, and to learn more about and follow Him.

I ask.. what can you give with a willing heart today? Can you give a breakfast or lunch or a coffee (I don't mean not to me)? Can you give a card expressing love and respect, and give in prayer?

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:44  

Can you give.. or can you tell His Story when you don't really "feel His anointing" ..at all? Sure you can. Are we to walk by feelings, by sight, or by faith?

Sometimes the Lord asks me to give what ..it would appear to many ..as something I don't feel I have to give. But then I think.. Wait, He can give me that so that I can give it away. Has he done that with you as well?

Believer, when you don't even feel like doin' it, you can share your story that leads to His Story and that's giving too. Yes, even when you might feel kinda down and out.. or like your body is totally out of it.. I mean energy or fuel so to speak.. God could ask you to speak. He can lead you to open your mouth in such a way that others will be led to God's living Word - Jesus! Other than worshiping Him, what beats that? Nothin'; null, zero does!

Is it really about how much you and I give and serve or is it more about how much love we put into both; about how directed we are by the God of selfless Love in what, how, and when we give and serve? 

There have been times before when He's asked me to serve when I've felt completely out of gas before, or to serve people when I've been sick. I even remember driving on the autobahn in Germany once to go preach near the Alps one night and then afterwards I could not find even one gas-station in the region that was still open in order to refuel for my drive home. The car was sputtering, it was actually 100% my fault for not reading up beforehand, but some friends and I there stopped to briefly pray about it. It wasn't super easy to get my car to start again, but that Audi actually made the entire 30 minute drive through falling the snow to my house in Augsburg. I was feelin' so relieved and grateful. Told Him so! Thank you Lord! 

Don't get me wrong on this.. I'm not at all telling you to serve when you are sick. Don't want to play Lord. I'd like to see you obey God first, and to be honest..also get to a pastor and a doctor that He leads you to. Not sure how it will go with you, how could I, but you can always trust the Lord. I'd say ask Him for wisdom and choose to apply.. to act wisely in obeying the Lord. Sure, daily obey Him more than you would any other human.

How cool that when we run out, we can by faith on any day of the week make a hefty love-withdrawal.  And the bank of God's perfect love up in heaven never ever goes bankrupt.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”― Winston S. Churchill

Sure, God can ask me to help others when I'm feeling so weak inside though. Has done it before.. or He can also say go speak here or go there when I don't even know what to say.. at all ..or do that at a time when I didn't have any formal Bible education yet. Has happened before! He can tell me to tithe and give offerings at a time when I feel broke. He's done that and I was in need myself. Was blessed after I did cuz the Lord likes to show me and others that He is able. My problems have become His. Yes, I try to plan. I'm far from perfect but Jesus took full responsibility for me and my family's needs when I repented and asked Him in.  

Have you ever said, Lord, please forgive me for my unbelief, please regenerate, come in to be Lord of my life.. not just Savior or Lord in theory. I want You to my CEO to lead me daily, I really do. I choose to trust You even when the circumstances don't look so good.

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.” ― Ben Carson

So what is God asking from me ..every single day of this year and of me for those following this year? What is God asking of me right now? He's asking for all of me now cuz He actually wants me more than what I can do for Him. And He loves me; has a predetermined plan for ALL of me body, soul, and spirit. Makes sense--Jesus Christ gave His life.. all of it for me.. now wants all of me. He wants all of you too!
  

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” ― Amy Carmichael

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” ― John Wesley

“For it is in giving that we receive.” ― Francis of Assisi

Those words challenge me to my core. Lord, in Jesus' mighty Name.. please help us now to have your persepctive, Your BIG and wise heart, Your trust in the Father, and to simply be more like You are. Need ya gobs. I want to depend on Your grace more!

I've seen and met my own fleshly nature before. Not handsome. I've seen my selfish ways before, and how much I lack spiritually, but I've also come to understand that God gives. He is the Giver of all givers. I wasn't born that way, but now want Him to give through me. And I cannot out-give him. Jesus gives and gives and gives some more. He will give me what I need when I need it. Even promised to do that for us and by faith we can claim that promise!

Does God lead you to give offerings when feeling needy at times? 

When we hear the Lord tell us to..  Try me.. Test Me in this.. it can feel like we're Him say Go jump over the moon! Lord, please forgive and help us believe even when the economy is really bad perhaps due to our nation's sinning as well as all the miss and under-informed voters who helped elect super lame leaders in our Land over us. 

May I ask you.. Have you heard God in Malachi 3:10 tell you to obey Him? I have. (No worries, I'm not asking or even wanting you to give to me. That's not the point of this. Prayer is. I simply want you to talk to, come to trust more, and obey Jesus regarding this area of giving). 

I know this mentioned verse needs to be looked at contextually and with all the other Bible verses dealing with giving. I know it is talkin' about giving financially and that is needed for so many local Christian churches these days. God is very practical. 

But God by His Spirit can also speak to our hearts if we let Him and He can give us wisdom for all kinds of different giving. He can show us step by step how to pull off what seems very impossible ..and He can give grace on a moment by moment regular basis. I'm an ordinary dude, but He's spoken to my heart before.. to give all of me to Him.. to give when it costs a lot and when it's not even convenient. But it's instead a big sacrifice for me. But listen.. you know that Jesus has of course sacrificed far more than me or you. I admit I haven't always obeyed Him, but I sure want to now. I believe that we are living in the last days when it's so crucial to obey God's Word. 

I so want to love Jesus more than I did yesterday.. love Him extravagantly, just like that poor widow in the Bible did when she didn't even have much at all to offer to God financially. How beautiful that she had a heart that was willing to obey Him at that time, yes a mind willing to sacrifice to Him.

Remember God's promise to us: Just be ready and see "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you.."  

Sometimes not giving to someone is obedience as well. Thinking of a certain drug abuser. They love to lie and get you feeling guilty (with false guilt) in order to manipulate your mercy and use your loan or gift to go sin more. Sure, watch Cops. All kinds of addicts seek to decieve and try to work-us Christians for their own wicked purposes. Be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. I say.. always let the Spirit lead you regarding the giving or not giving of anything, even when your bank account seems so empty to you. 

Don't even let the weird scam-tactics or pressure from money-grubbing televangelists (I mean the false teachers) presumptuously lead you to give with your credit card etc. That also would be sin. Jesus is your Lord who cares about you, not them. 

Study and remember how God used Corrie Ten Boom. She kept ministering and serving the Lord with joy inside that lice-ridden Ravensbrück Nazi concentration camp. Listen, these ideas and gentle warnings didn't originate with me, no no, but you and I can still be involved in sharing as Corrie did.. yes, in this kinda Spirit-led giving or wise non-giving even while we're perhaps still feeling pretty needy. And I pray that God will indeed bless and specifically meet your needs real soon, so you too can continue on with JOY! The Bible says... 

"Sitting across from the offering box, he (Jesus) was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, 'The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.'" Mark 12:41-44 msg

Here's more fodder for prayerful meditation and application:
*Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you.
*Deuteronomy 15:10 You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him: because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.
*1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
*Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
*Proverbs 28:27 He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
*Proverbs 21:26 He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.
*Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, said the LORD of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return?
*Malachi 3:10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
*Matthew 6:1 Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
*Luke 3:11 He answers and said to them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.
*Luke 6:30 Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.
*John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
*Acts 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
*2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
*2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness..