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Reading: Psalm 109
(Verses 16-20)
For he never thought of doing a kindness,
but hounded to death the poor
and the needy and the brokenhearted.
He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
May this be the LORD’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me (NIV).
Champlain Lookout toward the Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
In just a few months we will be entered the giving season. I am of course referring to the pre-Christmas shopping binge, when gifts are purchased, wrapped and hidden away for the big celebration. Many rail against this tradition, but in reality the scriptures are filled with admonitions that encourage us to be generous and bless others. Christmas and year-end provide us with wonderful opportunities to do just that. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).
If we find no pleasure in giving, we may be suffering from more than a simple case of Scrooge-like stinginess. Soul sucking self-centeredness destroys us from within. It defaces the image of God that is stamped upon us from birth. God our heavenly Father is the picture of generosity. He gave His only Son for us. In light of this sacrifice, there’s something terribly wrong if we can’t spare a dime or a kind word for the less fortunate. Generosity is never out of season.
Today’s reading provides us with a negative contrast to the generosity of God. The individual being described withheld his blessing. He loved to pronounce a curse—may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing—may it be far from him.
How generous am I with words of blessing? How generous am I with this world’s goods that have been lavished on me by a gracious Father? Now and in pre-Christmas season I need to check my heart and my bank account, but above all my heart. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Am I generous with words of praise and thanks for those around me—with the clerk at the shopping mall or the life partner who shares my bed? Am I reflecting or defacing the image of God?
Response: Father God, today I want to be a blessing and pronounce a blessing on those around me. Over the years others have blessed me. I am thankful for them, and the generosity of your love, forgiveness and grace. It’s far more than I deserve. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you too tightfisted or too lavish with your giving?
I love the Psalms 
God says a lot about how we care for the poor in His word. When we value ‘self’ and oppress the poor it will not go well for us or for our country. It is far better to be generous and give than to selfishly keep what we have. In our experience we have found even if we give our last dollars to the poor He will make sure we always have enough. We have seen this principle happen too many times to count.
Once, when we were homeless in Ottawa in 2014, we slept in Gilbey Park by the Calvin Christian Reformed Church. On that Sunday we went to a little Filipino church nearby. In the service God asked me to put our last $10 in the offering. Though we had no food and were hungry I obeyed. After the service we found our they were having a potluck and invited us to join. We had the first hot food in days and more than enough for our family. A couple of days later God also put into our hands a crisp new $100 bill from a brother in the Lord. Just one example of when we obey God and give He always makes sure we are taken care of.
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
That’s an excellent example of giving coupled with faith. Thanks for sharing this.