DCLM Daily Manna Friday 11 August 2023

TOPIC: Pure Generosity

TEXT:  Ruth 3:14-18 (KJV)
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.

18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

KEY VERSE
“And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.” 
(Ruth 3:17)

DCLM Daily Manna Friday 11 August 2023 MESSAGE

John Wesley once said, “When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can, does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!” Generosity is the hallmark of people like Boaz who are always willing to use every opportunity to help less privileged people around them.

Ruth was a poor widow living with her mother-in-law, also a widow. They had very little resources and Ruth had to take every available opportunity to work on the field. In the passage we are reading today, her mother-in-law advised her to take advantage of the festive occasion to remind Boaz, their kinsman, of his family responsibility. Apart from promising to take action on her request, Boaz took immediate steps to assist the poor family with food.

READ DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 10 August 2023 – A Worthy Testimony

The Bible has a lot to say about generosity. God gave us His Son Jesus Christ who also gave His life a ransom to free mankind from the shackles of sin. Giving is foundational to true fellowship among believers who do not take advantage of the weak. Boaz did not abuse his status as a wealthy lord to lure Ruth into any form of ungodliness. Generosity among saints must be genuine and pure.

True generosity affects not only our material resources but our time and talents as well. We must be generous in making time available for the work of God and do all we can to make sure that the gospel is preached to the lost world. That is one good way we must be generous in our labour. It is also the way to truly give for the cause of Christ.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Titus 1-3