|
GIVING
Is
the Secret
to
RECEIVING Blessings!
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
"Give,
and it shall be given unto
you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken
together, and running over,
shall men give into your
bosom.
For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it
shall be measured to you again."
(Luke 6:38)
 GIVE
AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU
Show
me a giving,
sharing
person, and I'll show you a
happy person! On the other
hand, a stingy individual is
usually taken up with himself
and others of "the
same ilk", and
soon tires of both himself and
them!
Those
kind of people are most often
selfish, grabby and critical
of others.
They are usually
insecure because they trust
only in themselves, rather
than having faith in God and
their fellowmen!
After a time of self
adulation, the "self-made
man" loses faith
in his own ability and the
system that "created
him"!
Consequently, such a person is
most unhappy, depressed and a
candidate for ulcers1
THE
HAPPIEST & MOST BLESSED
PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE ONES WHO
GIVE TO OTHERS
Some
of the happiest people I have
met, are dedicated seniors who
live only for their families,
doting on the "little
ones", counseling
their children or entertaining
guests who "drop
by".
What
makes this country function,
is not the bloated
bureaucrat or politician,
but the dedicated moms and
dads who rise early in the
morning to help their kids
deliver newspapers and who
spend countless hours driving
them to music lessons, hockey
or baseball practice and
Sunday School.
Let's
not forget the thousands of
community workers who
continually give their time,
money and effort in working to
help the under-privileged, and
be a blessing to their
fellowman.
I
have met a lot of these
special people - during
four decades of Christian
Ministry - many of
which are unheralded and
unsung.
And without doubt,
these are the real backbone of
Canada's homes, churches and
communities.
KATIE
KUTRYK: A BLESSING - ONE
IN A MILLION
I'm
referring to people like Katie
Kutryk, a wonderful lady
who attended our church for
many years. Katie Kutryk
passed away a number of years
ago at 88 years of age.
This was a woman who
never missed a beat for Jesus,
the Church or her family.
Katie
was "always
there" for us all;
an example extra-ordinaire, of
Christian loving, giving and
sharing the gospel of Christ
in her daily living.
She utilized every
opportunity to testify, to be
a blessing by giving to
missions and supporting her
Church and pastor!
We all miss her dearly.
My
son Ken Solbrekken, Director
of Pastoral Counseling for the
Alberta District of the
Pentecostal Assemblies of
Canada, put Katie's life in
perspective by sharing the
following at her funeral:
"Several
years ago, a number of
Edmonton Churches united for a
gospel outreach.
The weather turned
bitterly cold and attendance
was poor.
As I was hurrying
towards the auditorium, a lone
figure stepped off the bus and
headed against the wind, in
the same direction.
"It
was Katie Kutryk.
While others had stayed
home to enjoy their
fireplaces, Katie had come to
serve!"
AN
INSPIRATIONAL POEM ON GIVING
TO BLESS YOU
Here
is a little poem which I hope
will be an inspiration to you.
We found it inscribed
on a restaurant place mat.
The last six lines were
added by myself,
GIFTS
To
your enemy....forgiveness
To you opponent.....tolerance
To a friend....your heart
To a customer....service
To all men...charity
To
every child....a good example
To yourself....respect
To your spouse....trust
To your employer.....loyalty
To elected officials...your
prayers
To your Minister....dedication
To Jesus Christ.....your life
To your fellowman....your best
!
JESUS
SAID, "BLESS THEM THAT
CURSE YOU"
Jesus
said, ""..Love
your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use
you and persecute you". (Matthew
5:44)
It
is difficult to be tolerant
and caring to those who
misunderstand or abuse us, but
the Holy Spirit gives the
necessary help to do so.
To be tolerant however,
does not mean that you must
compromise your principles.
 LET
US SEEK TO BE SERVERS &
GIVERS, BLESS OTHERS AND
GOD WILL BLESS YOU
Let
us all seek to be servers and
givers, rather than always
demanding others to serve us.
And remember that true
charity or 'agape'
love goes the "second
mile".
THE
YOUNGER GENERATION IS WATCHING
What our young
people need today, is a
definite example of godly
principles exhibited by
adults.
There is nothing worse
than being a hypocrite.
A
GOOD NAME IS BETTER CHOSEN
THAN GREAT RICHES
The
Bible says, "A
good name is rather to be
chosen than great
riches..." (Proverbs
22:1)
In order to respect
others, their property and
their rights, we must first
respect ourselves and our own
property.
Building
strong families, requires
husbands and wives to show
love, affection and trust
toward one another, in public
and private!
Something that is sadly
lacking in Canada today, is
the old fashioned "Protestant
work ethic" that
built this country.
It
is important for
employees to be loyal to their
employers, by putting in a
good day's work, and those who
pay the salaries must be fair
to their employees!
Our government leaders and
elected officials need our
prayers and support, as do our
pastors and gospel ministers
who labour among us for the
common good of all.
FOLLOWING
CHRIST IS VERY REWARDING
To
follow Jesus Christ and His
teachings is not easy, but so
rewarding!
He said, "Whosoever
will come after Me, let him
deny himself and take up his
cross and follow Me". (Mark
8:34)
In
my opinion, if all Christians
in Canada would begin to
practice the gospel of Christ,
we would not only solve our
own problems but those of
other nations as well.
|
Bible
study scriptures / verses
IMPORTANT
STUDY MATERIAL
Luke
6:38
"Give,
and it shall be given unto
you; good measure, pressed
down, and shaken
together, and running over,
shall men give into your
bosom.
For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it
shall be measured to you again."
Matthew
6:33
Jesus
said, "But seek ye
first the kingdom of God,
and His righteousness; and
all these things shall be
added unto you."
1
Peter 3:15
The
Bible instructs: "But
sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be ready
always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is
in you with meekness and
fear."
1
Timothy 6:17-19
"Charge
them that are rich in this
world, that they be not
high-minded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the
living God, Who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they
be rich in good works, ready
to distribute, willing to
communicate; Laying up in
store for themselves a good
foundation against the time
to come, that they may lay
hold on eternal life."
Psalms
119:2
"Blessed
are they that keep his
testimonies, and that seek
him with the whole
heart."
Isaiah
55:6
"Seek
ye the LORD while he may
be found, call ye upon
him while he is near."
Proverbs
8:17
"I
love them that love me;
and those that seek me early
shall find
me."
Isaiah
1:18-19
God
invites: "Come now,
and let us reason
together... though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool."
(Isaiah 1:18-19)
MARK
8:34-38
Jesus
said, "What shall it
profit a man, if he shall
gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul?"
(Mark 8:34-38).
JOHN
3:16-17
"For
God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting
life."
"For
God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the
world: but that the world
through Him might be
saved:"
|
|
|
