It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day seven in the fifth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Excellence In Giving

“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.“
Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Do you like to give?  Do you ever get tired of giving?  How do you decide when to give and when not to?  Have you ever received something as a result of your giving?  What was it?  How did it happen?  How willing are you to share what you know God has given you?  What do you have that has not come from God?  Do you want to excel in giving?  What keeps you from doing so?

After my first book was published, I had dreams of the royalty checks arriving on a regular basis with larger and larger numbers on them each time.  As God gave me more writing assignments, He also put within me a conviction that I was to freely share what He had given.  So, while one or two copies of my books sell on Amazon every month, I have now given away thousands of copies to people who will use them to grow in their relationship with God.  As I give, He continues to provide additional writing assignments as well as financial partners that allow books to continue to be given away.

As you pray, ask God to help you see what you are grasping that may keep you from serving through giving.  Pray that you would give just as freely as you have received from God.

In prayer,

Tom