God Is Generous

One of a Series on "God's Endearing Personality"

One has only to remember John 3:16 to know that God is generous, the ultimate Giver. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life." In so many more ways than this, however, God shows us His heart of giving.

Thou that has given so much to me,

Give one thing more, a grateful heart.

--George Herbert (1593-1633)

"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" (Psalm 68:19 NKJV) There is perhaps no better way for me to explain God's generous "benefits" than letting Psalm 103 (NLT) enumerate some of them.

He forgives all your iniquities; He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. What would happen if we all got exactly what we deserve?

Heals all your diseases. I believe there is no disease—ancient or modern, and not even death—that God has not shown Himself to someone somewhere as the victor over it. Some scholarly person has studied execution by crucifixion and has concluded that every type of human suffering was experienced by Jesus during His Passion. He overcame them all and lives today!

Redeems your life from destruction. How many times a day, even when we are unaware of it, has God kept us from harm? Even greater, how often He answers our prayer, "Deliver us from evil." The angel of the Lord truly is "camping" all around the person who confidence is in God!

Crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Some folks talk or sing about the crown they expect to have one day when they get to heaven. This crown is for "everyday" wear and is ours by our present acknowledgement of it.

Satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Physical needs, spiritual hunger, intellectual quests, mental stimulation, emotional satisfaction—God is concerned that all of these appropriately supplied.

Executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He is the helper of the helpless. We've often heard it said, "God helps those who help themselves," but another Scripture tells us differently. He is "father to the fatherless, defender of widows . . . God places the lonely in families." (Psalm 68: 5, 6 NLT) He does not ignore the needy, but sends aid—very often through the hearts of others He has touched and through their hands.

Pities (has compassion on) those who fear Him, knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. The children's little song says, "Be careful little lips what you say . . . little hands what you do . . . little feet where you go," and sometimes we grow up feeling that the Big Policeman in Heaven is just waiting to catch us in a wrongdoing. No, we sometimes forget that the song also tells us, "There's a Father up above and He's looking down in love." He is a good Father who would seek to correct rather than condemn,

The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. While Jesus warned His followers that there would be "tribulation" for them in the world, yet the promise is that in all things He is working for our good. (See Romans 8:28)

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits!"

MaryMartha

Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture marked NLT is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/