See A Need? Sow To It!

# 302 - We've been talking about the fasting of deprivation. Every act of giving to others inevitably involves a withholding of something that could have been spent on you, it is a deprivation, a fast if you will, and God promises to respond in kind.  This kind of fast can involve time, money, or goods. Listen to the preacher in Ecclesiastes 11:1-4 and learn to give from what you have now, rather than waiting to give out of your surplus. Learn the lessons of sacrificial giving because they are in essence a fast. “Cast your bread upon the waters,” (What does bread do when it soaks in water? It expands) “for you will find it after many days, (The results may take time) “Give a portion to seven or even eight, (error on the side of generosity,  for instance, someone you know needs transportation, well, lend them your car, while you're at it, fill up the tank, and give them a gas card....be generous! And don't delay! If you see a need and you are able to help, go for it! “for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full of rain they empty themselves on the earth and if a tree falls to the south or to the north in the place where the tree falls there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. In other words don’t let your present circumstances dictate your willingness to give to a need. Don’t wait for ideal conditions to be in place before you act. Do you have a need? Sow to it now! Do you see a need? Sow to it now! When you understand this principle of giving to a need, taking the little that you have and giving it to God, it’s like priming the pump. A pump won’t work unless it has a watertight seal. And if you take just a little water and pour it into the pump. It fills in the gaps around the seal and allows the pump to pull up the water from the spring below. God’s got some gaps He would like you to fill, some needs He wants to meet if you are willing to part with a little of what you have. Prime the pumps of heaven as you learn to give to a need from whatever you have in hand to meet the need. Let’s close with some biblical examples. Hannah, was barren, she fasted and prayed and vowed to give God the child if she became pregnant, and she gave birth to Samuel, but that’s not all, the Lord blessed her with three more sons and two daughters.  Ruth, without a husband, opener her heart to Naomi and became like a husband to her,  and God provided her a husband. The widow’s mite. She was down to her last cent, but gave to her need, and the Lord noticed. The boy with the lunch of fish and bread gave it to Jesus, and 5,000 were fed. No need to take inventory of your resources, that's what the widow of Zarephath did and she was gripped by fear.   Rather look for the need around you, and then give to it with whatever you are able, asking God to bless it. Father, help me to be generous to needs.