FORGIVING BEFORE GIVING Matthew 5:23-26
Devotional Verse:- “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Vs. 24)
We often want to give to God knowing full well that He will reward us in multiple folds. Sometimes, people forget to give people around them things because of greed and even when they give, they do so because of reward mentality. This is not right (Matthew 6:4). The Bible teaches us to give, not because people can pay us back (Luke 14:12-14). Our giving should be a demonstration of love. Our giving should be in obedience to God’s commandment. This is when we are doing what is right before God.
Jesus teaches us in our Scripture for today that before giving God anything, we must first forgive those who have offended us. The reason is that, we can’t hate people and claim to love God (1 John 4:20). This makes a seed before the Lord to be unacceptable.
Jesus says whenever we want to give God anything and we realize that we have not forgiven certain people; we should pause in the process and first forgive them. The Bible tells us that God loves cheerful givers (I Cor. 9:7). Don’t ever be angry with anyone and laugh with God. If your giving is a demonstration of love, then the same love should be extended to your fellow men and not only to God (1 John 4:20). Sacrifice is an act of love and can only be acceptable from a heart of true love. Our seeds will not waste in Jesus name. Peace!
Prayer: Lord, make me a giver of love.
“ONLY GIVING THROUGH LOVE IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD”