The Blessings of Generosity
Sis. Stella Dhinakaran
My precious child of God, I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Today, we will meditate on Deuteronomy 28:8, which says, “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake.” How do you receive blessings from the Lord? If you read Proverbs 3:9-10 it says, "Honour the Lord with your possessions and with the first fruits of all your increase. Then your barns will be filled with plenty." Therefore, always put God first in your life and give to Him wholeheartedly. When I was a child, my mother taught me this valuable lesson. Whenever she gave us a new pencil, pen, or dress, she would ask us to bring it to the church and keep it in the presence of God. She believed that if we did this, we would be blessed by the Lord. Teach your children also to prioritise God from a young age, and they will not depart from it.
It is important to give your first fruit, the first blessing, or the first and best of what you have to God through His ministry. Exodus 23:19 and 34:26 also mention this practice. By giving to God first, you will certainly be abundantly blessed in all areas of your life, including your spiritual and worldly aspects. After completing his BSc, my son Dr. Paul Dhinakaran pursued an MBA, which was rare at that time and thus in high demand. Many universities offered him a lecturer position. However, during this time, the Jesus Calls Ministry was rapidly growing and in need of more people to help. Understanding this, my son chose to prioritise God and His ministry over a worldly job. He wanted to join his father, Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran, to serve in the Jesus Calls ministry. His obedience to God has resulted in abundant blessings from Him.
My friend, you will have all that you need. You will prosper in both your material and spiritual life if you learn to give God your first and best. Don't hold back anything, thinking, "This is for me." You should not keep anything for yourself—the best should be given to the Lord. When you do so, the Lord will bless you abundantly, just as He promises us today.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful for Your loving promise, and I surrender myself completely to You. Please take full control of my life and grant me the grace to prioritise You in everything that I do. Help me to offer my first and best to You and to give liberally to Your ministry so that I may be a blessing to many. Lord, I pray for Your guidance and wisdom so that I will always please you above all else. I know that You will satisfy all of my needs by commanding Your blessings over my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.