How To Give Your Best
Reaching new goals and having success in life is not easy. Being successful requires:
- DISCIPLINE.
- FOCUS.
- DETERMINATION.
- QUALITY FEEDBACK.
- ATTITUDE.
These are a few of the necessary skills.
Today’s post wraps a three-part series on giving our best and what happens when we do.
Check out Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE.
The Bible says that:
- Jesus will return.
- History is moving toward a climax.
- We will spend eternity somewhere.
- Life on earth is a dress rehearsal.
- We have about 70 to 90 years to live (not very long vs. eternity).
2 Peter 3:11-13 (NLT) – Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
How would your life change if you used more of your time, money & energy on what will last forever?
Here’s what we do, we GIVE OUR BEST!
2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV) – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
How To Give Your Best
The Bible has three illustrations of giving your best one as a farmer, one as an athlete, and another as a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:3-7 (NIV) – Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
An Illustration from the Farmer
We have a simple garden in our backyard, nothing unique or exciting, but it gives us a distraction in the summer, and we enjoy the modest harvest through the season and fall. The Bible has several illustrations of the parallels between gardening and life. I often share these principles in coaching sessions because of the timeless truths they offer us.
Matthew 13:24 (NASB) – Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
I Must: Plant Generously In Faith.
2 Corinthians 9:6-13 (NASB) – Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written,
“HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all…
Life on earth is like planting a garden.
In Heaven, we will reap the seed we planted on earth
In heaven, we will enjoy the fruit of what we planted!
Five times in the Bible, Jesus says to Store up Treasure in Heaven.
How To Store Up Treasure in Heaven
- Give to the things God Cares About
- Give in Faith, even when it does not make sense
- Give joyfully, and check your attitude before giving
- Give to be a blessing to others
- Give and look for God to multiple and return the blessings.
Two Promises of Jesus
Luke 6:38 (NLT) – Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
Mark 10:29-30 (NLT) – “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
Start this week. Give your best, as an athlete, as a soldier, and as a farmer.
Live by Faith, knowing that God will reward you for your faithful living.
One Last Thought
God is calling you to give in some capacity. Giving is like farming; we plant our seeds in suitable soil, and we will have a harvest. When we give to the right things, we impact things more significant than ourselves.
Here are two examples of ministries to give to:
Check them out and consider giving (planting) today.
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