“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27
Some of the hardest teachings in the Bible for me are those that abruptly confront my selfish flesh. Love your enemies. Count it as joy when you encounter trials. Forgive those who sin against you 77 x 7 times. God really knows how to meet me in that divine space between what He calls me to do and what I actually do. This is one of those teachings: do not withhold good when it is in your power to act.
For believers, there will always be the temptation to withhold good. Although our passage today speaks of the withholding of debts owed, there are many other good gifts that God expects us to give. Believers are called to surrender our lives to God. We reflect Jesus when we are generous with our money, with our time, with our spiritual gifts, with our forgiveness, and with our love, grace, and mercy.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” – James 1:17
Believers are the hands and feet of God. Until Jesus returns for His people, we are the vessels through which God supplies these good gifts. God calls us to die to self – to give up our dreams, our desires, and our plans for His.
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need,
yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Little children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Why is it so difficult to give sacrificially? Giving involves risk, so we often find ourselves seeking guaranteed return on our investment. What if the person hasn’t earned it? What if they don’t deserve it? What if they are ungrateful? What if they don’t pay me back? How will the loss affect me? There is always an inherent risk in giving, but we have to trust God with our investment. When we give sacrificially, we surrender our rights to those answers.
Giving God’s good and perfect gifts means we deny ourselves and give people the love, goodness, and mercy of Jesus.
Giving Jesus means we deny ourselves the right to judge who is worthy of our love and generosity.
Giving Jesus means we deny ourselves the right to reject and ignore those who offend us.
Giving Jesus means we deny ourselves the right to demand the last word or to retaliate with anger.
Giving Jesus means we deny ourselves the right to refuse our forgiveness.
Giving Jesus means we deny ourselves the right to withhold good.
When we withhold good from people, we withhold God from them.
Giving people the goodness of Jesus can feel uncomfortable, inconvenient, and sometimes painful. However, believers must always look to the example of Jesus who continued to pour out His love, mercy, and forgiveness to the undeserving even to the very end. God calls us to put Him first by loving people without expectations.
When we put God first – when we put God’s people first – He promises to bless our lives and supply abundance beyond our comprehension. Our goodness towards others will not go unnoticed. We cannot out-give God!
When faced with the opportunity to do good for someone, we must ask the question, “Would I hesitate to give extravagantly to God?” Our giving, ultimately, is not to the one in need, but to Christ Himself. How much is God worth to me and to you?
What expectations are you placing on those whom you are called to bless? What goodness are you withholding because the cost is too great? In what circumstance do you need God’s help to loosen your grip on self-preservation? How can we pray for you as you begin “giving Jesus” to all you encounter?
Peace and grace to you,
Terria serves on the LGG encourager and social media teams. She lives in Virginia with her husband. She is a proud mother of two beautiful girls in college. Her passionate goal is to ignite and empower a generation of millennial women to grab hold of God’s truth and cling to it. She can be tracked down hard at work in busy hospitals listening to patients’ stories, while sharing the lessons and love that God has poured out in her life. Despite the sometimes chaotic circumstances of Terria’s life, God always shows Himself strong and loving.
Thank you wonderful ladies at LGG. This message today spoke volumes to me today. Wishing you all a very blessed weekend.
Thank you, Shirley! Same to you!
I loved this today. I seem to forget when I am trying to get in that last word or ignore someone wanting my time because I get selfish. And then wonder why God hasnt answered my prayer requests. He is testing me and I have failed the test, so how can I ask for more? This was a great message! Thank you!
Oh Brenda,
I know the feeling. It is those intangible things that are often the hardest things to sacrifice: time, forgiveness, the need to be right. I am so thankful that God’s mercy is new every morning. He gives us brand new opportunities and renewed strength each day to carry out His high calling. Praying for you!
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Shalom! This message spoke volumes to me. I am so grateful to read this. Thank you!
“Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.”
Proverbs 3:27 MSG
It is my duty to pay my debts. It is also my duty to give to the needs of humanity, whether love, money, time, or kindness.
I was pierced deeply with this verse today. Especially when I read the Message translation. It is not up to me to decide who deserves help. Not up to me who deserves my time or money. Not up to me who deserves kindness. When I decide, the choice is often rooted in pride. I need to let God decide, and I need to listen.
Lord, thank you for providing above and beyond what I need in this life. Pierce my pride when it blocks your will. Keep my heart soft and tender towards humanity. Help me to see what you see, and when you want me to act, help me to do it. In Jesus name amen.
“I need to let God decide, and I need to listen.” How true is this statement, Jennifer! Too often, as you said, we try to decide who deserves help when we should just be listening to God’s guidance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
This has put me on display. I at times selfishly tend to pick and choose who to give to or sacrifice for according to what will be beneficial to me instead of faiithfully listening to Gods direction. After the fact I have feelings of guilt for my actions. This group has been such a blessing. Each day I am stretched more to become who God wants me when I be instead of who I plan out to be. I pray for strength and discipline as I surrender to His word.
Barbara,
I am so glad this study has stretched and grown you. It has really revealed those pockets of resistance and disobedience in my heart as well. We will be praying for you, and please pray for us, your sisters in Christ, to become more like Jesus! ❤
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Thank you for such an inspirational daily devotion. In this day and age we need reminding of this even more.
Cheryl,
Thank you so much for joining us in this study. You are so right! We all need this message of selfless giving so that we reflect Christ to everyone. Please join us as we continue to pray that believers put the Word of God into action and demonstrate God’s love to this fallen world! ❤
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
“When we withhold good from people, we withhold God from them.” Oh, my. So true, and yet I am so selfish sometimes that I do withhold when I could, and should give. Please help me Lord, to always be ready to give you to “them.”
Birdie,
I was also convicted as I was writing this message. The Holy Spirit has been urging me to give freely of my time, money, and forgiveness. Let’s continue to pray for ourselves and all of God’s people…that none of us would withhold God!?
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
That statement convicted me as well. I want to share God’s love and His plan for salvation, not be a reason or block someone from knowing Him because I withheld good. Sadly, in hindsight, I have done just that. Thankful, His mercies are new each day.
I’m confused a bit here. I love the message today. But what I’m confused about is this: at the title it says ‘Withholding Good by Whitney D’ but then Terria is signed at the bottom of the page. Why are both names on the page? Again, I absolutely love the message and it spoke to me as well.
Many thanks,
Angela, Whitney, Jen, and Joy are the leaders of LGG and the administrators of this website. One of them uploads the posts every M-W-F (either their own posts or any guest blog posts) to this website. This particular blog post, I happened to write. I’m glad you were blessed by the message!
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Thank you for this wonderful reflection.
Glenda,
We are so glad you have enjoyed this study! We can’t wait to hear how you have been blessed by implementing God’s wisdom in your home and community!
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Today’s message really touched my spirit that I have quickly had to forgive and called a relation who had disappointed me in the past but currently needs a job to survive. May God richly bless LGG. I am so glad I heard this truth today.
Roseline,
What an amazing testimony of your love and obedience to God…to step out in faith, to forgive, and to bless someone who has hurt you in the past! We are so glad that this study is helping to stretch and grow you in the faith! Continue to press forward in the faith! ?
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Great word today!
Jennifer, thank you for joining us for this amazing study! ?
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
Girls a word of encouragement for your diligent LGG team.
Thank you.
However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him
1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Orla,
Thank you for your encouragement and your prayers! Our LGG Leadership Team works extremely hard to ensure that women all over the world draw closer to God through daily study of His Word! All of your prayers are greatly appreciated.
~Terria (LGG Encourager)
“Giving Jesus means . . .” definitely alerted my spiritual antenna! Thank for for this memorable way of expressing this.
Patricia,
I’m so glad this message spoke to you and prompted you to give Jesus even more! Thank you for joining us for this study!?
~Terria (LGG Encourager)