James 1.5

//If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. //

James 1:5

God is a Giver, not a taker. From the foundation of the world to now, I look at His Holy Word and the handiwork of His hands all around me and I stand in awe at His generosity. I often take this for granted and feel as if He demands more from me than He does. When I think of my Father like that, I am surely believing lies from the deceiver, Who is the one that actually comes to steal. Satan comes to take and destroy. Jesus came to give abundance to the full.God is a giver at His core, it's not what He does, it's who He is.

God is a multiplier. We see from the beginning of scripture to the miracles He is still working today, He creates something out of nothing and redeems beauty from ashes. He takes five loaves and feeds five thousand. He redeems our life from the pit, our eyes from tears and our feet from stumbling. Only a Giver can do that.

Anything He takes He gives back with good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. God's character is one that gives generously to all. God declared that we are made in His image and likeness, handcrafted by Him for a time and purpose. I don't have to go out on a limb to see that I am created to give generously to all without reproach. It's not what I should do, it's who He's made me to be. At the fall of man, we became broken, marred and dirty. Our communion with Him was broken. But He didn't leave us like that. He gave us Jesus for the redemption of man and to restore wholeness to His creation. He's given abundance through Jesus Christ and restored our image In Him. Only in a life that is hidden with Christ can our selfish hearts be redeemed to a giving heart. Gods hand is not short that He cannot save. If we offer up our selfish heart to Him, He will surely implant a generous heart. It's just one of the supernatural miracles He is still working today.

Im Christ we are called to a life that gives all things generously without reproach. What is God asking each one of you to give today? Often times when we speak of giving, the first place our mind will go to is money. While money is a beautiful gift we can use to glorify God, we have so much more to give than just money. One of the most precious things we can give to others is our time. It truly is a sacrifice, but one that is holy and acceptable to God. When we have His heart as a Giver, giving is a blessing and not a chore. Each and every season will look differently and we will give different things each day. but I remain confident is one thing, that He who gives generously to all, created us to do the same. He won't force us to give generously to all, but He beckons us into a life that is greater than one lived for yourself.

Application: I'm created in the image that gives generously to all without reproach. Today I am asking the Lord to show me the areas that I am refusing to give to Him and others in my life.