Giving and Receiving

Acts 20:35 KJV
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye 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 9:8 NIV
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

A careful look at the world's standards shows a very great departure from God's set standards. It is a world that places great emphasis of possessions,  properties, provisions, power and privileges. We love the things we see and touch and we spare no expense to get them. We are a junk- gathering community, where wealth, success and relevance are measured by the sizes of bank accounts, houses and degrees.
Unfortunately, God's acceptable standards have no room for such things. He runs with a different focus and destination in mind. Reading the first passage in Acts above raises fundamental questions for this present generation of 'grab-it-all - how do I get blessed if I give out all I have? That's the logic, God's Word gives the illogical answer - the more you give out, the more room you open up to receive more. The more you open your door and heart to others, the more open you are to God's amazing provision. That's illogical by the standards of the world. It is only in the dictionary and by the world's standard that Pride comes after destrution or humility comes after honour. God runs by a different standard and holds his children up to a different standard. He tells me that I must humble myself if I want to be honoured and that pride always precedes destruction. That is his eternal standard. The same goes for giving. The more I open my hand to give others, the more I free up space to receive more. The more I give, the more capacity I build to receive more. That's how God does his things.
As you give, the other passage says there's a grace of abundance that causes you to abound to do more. How God does it I do not know but haven't you noticed that the people who keep amassing wealth never seem to have enough while those who have learnt to keep giving keep receiving and never seem to lack? You don't see any visible sign of ostentatious wealth in them, yet they have distributed wealth into the lives of many around them. That's the secret of those who have learnt the fine grace of giving as God desires.
God is bound to bless you if you live according to his standards so learn it today- give, give and give more. You can never give more than what God has given and God's Word of provision can never be broken.
Reach out, open up, touch someone. It is a ripe field out there, waiting for God's children to touch it with the grace of God. His time of favour is here.