Psalms 37:26

“The Principle of Giving”

Psalms 37:26 says, “He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.” In Psalms 37 some of the differences between those that live only for the things of this life and those who know Jesus as their Savior are given. In talking about the Christian remember that it is God that is the potter and man that is the clay. God’s work in this world is to touch the hearts of sinners to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus for salvation. And God’s work in the life of a Christian is to conform the Christian into the image of God by faith in the promises of God.

When the character qualities that a Christian should have are given in the Bible these character qualities reflect the character of God. In verse 26 what is being talked about is the generosity of God. When the people of this world who live only for this life give out it is more often than not based on the principles of usury. They give out for the purpose of gaining for themselves personally in some way materially or financially. When Christians give they do out of the kindness and love of their hearts to those in need because they have learned from God how wonderful it is to show love by giving.

In other words Psalms 37:26 teaches about the principles of giving. In Psalms 37:21 it says of the wicked “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.” It is stealing to borrow from someone with the intention of never paying them back. Jesus said in John 12:8, “The poor you have always.” There will always be more poor people in this world than rich people because of human greed. The disadvantage of the poor is that they are in need. Sometimes those that have riches; instead of using their riches to help others use their riches to take advantage of others. This is why James 2:6-7 says, “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called.”

There are not many rich men in this world with faith in Jesus. Most men use their riches and power to oppose the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ of the Bible. The entire world has an economy based on the principles of lending for the purpose of gaining more materially and financially in return. How greedy and selfish the world is. How much the poor in this world and the Christian has suffered because of those that take advantage of them being greedy of gain and living by the principles of usury. God is not like this at all. How unlike God most men are. God is a giver. Romans 8:32 says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” God gave his only begotten Son Jesus by sending him to die on the cross for the sins of the world. God gives all spiritual blessings in heavenly places to those that repent of their sins and trust in Christ for salvation.

There is no one as generous as the one true living God of the Bible. What a giver God is. God gives out of mercy and God does not give hoping for anything in return. God does not give under the principles of usury to take advantage of the poor and needy. It is no wonder those who have a personal relationship with the God of the Bible often have the characteristics of giving. Those who give their lives to follow after the footprints of Jesus are the ones who are doing the most for humanity in this world. They give of their time. They give of their possessions. They give of their abilities. They do it for mercy’s sake because they know the mercy of God that is found in the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ.

In Psalms 37:26 when the Bible says, “he is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed,” we are being taught not only about the motivation a person should have when they give, a motivation based on mercy, truth, love, and not personal gain; but we are also taught about the rewards of giving. It is a blessing to be able to give and help those in need. You may not gain riches and fame by giving out of mercy’s sake and not for the sake of material gain but you will gain a blessing.

The word that is here used to mean blessing, can mean praise of God. In other words because God is a giver because God is so generous and merciful God loves to see it when men and especially when His children reflect the mercy and generosity of God by giving. Some men seek too much to please men. It is much better to please God and have the praise of God than the praise of men. Giving for mercies sake can have a tremendous impact on a person in need. Of course there are many ways to give. One can give money and material possessions. But one can also give of his abilities. One can give of his time through prayer. These may be the best ways to give: through prayer and through using your abilities to somehow help spread the truth of the Word of God. There is no greater gift than the gift of the truth. If all you do is give materially but never help spread the truth of the Word of God then how is your giving profiting those in need? This is one reasons God loves giving so much. Giving to help the needs of others materially if done the right way can do a great deal to help spread the truth of the Bible.

This is why when it comes to the Biblical teaching on giving the Bible has one thing to say. And it is found In Second Corinthians 9:6-7 which says, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

In these verses on the teaching of giving what is emphasized is giving as God burdens in your heart to give. The law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. We live under grace not under the law. You do not have to give 10%. You do not have to tithe to please God. It is not a commandment under grace and under the teachings of the New Testament to give a certain amount. The commandment is give as God burdens you in your heart to give. Maybe God wants you to give 10% maybe He wants you to give 1% or maybe He wants you to give 11%. Maybe God wants you to give in other ways than just giving money in a church. Maybe God wants you to give of your time, or your abilities, or maybe God simply wants you to give your best effort in the things you do in life each day as you strive to do them for his glory. Seeking the will of God and doing the will of God is giving much more than the giving of money is. It does not take money to preach the Gospel. It does not take money or resources to follow the will of God. But God will give you material things. Be you rich or poor use those things, give them back to God the way he wants you to give them back to him: by helping those in need, and by helping the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you tithe in Church but fail to give as God burdens you in your heart then you have failed to be a giver. To give according as God burdens you in your heart to give you must walk in fellowship with Christ and stay connected to the Spirit of God through the Word of God. You should be led of the Spirit in your giving just as you should be led by the Spirit in all that you do in life just as it says in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Giving to help those in need can accomplish great things for God and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Giving can help do so much for the spread of the truth of God’s Word. Giving will teach mean about the love of God, the mercy of God, the grace of God, the desire of God to take care of those who turn to and trust in Him. God is a giver. No matter how much you give of your possessions or of your time you will never out give God who sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10:42, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” God loves giving so much that even the smallest or most basic gift towards human need is a great gift in the eyes of God. This is why Jesus spoke of water: because Jesus is the water of life. There is no greater gift than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you’re part to help in the giving of the gospel of Jesus Christ if you truly want to be a giver the way God is a giver.

Here in Psalms 37 the Bible speaks out against giving for the purpose of gaining. The Bible teaches against usury, against giving out for the purpose of gaining in return with interest. It is wrong, it selfish, and it is cruel to take advantage of the poor by lending to them and making them pay more in return. This is a form of slavery just as it says in Proverbs 22:7, “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

Thankfully where man is greedy God is generous. God wants to take care of your needs. God wants to bless you. You can enter into the blessings of God by repenting of your sins and turning to Jesus Christ of the Bible for salvation. First John 5:11 says, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

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