“Better to give one penny a day for a hundred days than to give a dollar once in a hundred days. Why? Because every time your hand does an action of giving, it becomes more and more a giving hand.”
An Old Wise Saying….
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
What do I think of this??? I think it is a good habit, a good practice and a good work. It brings to mind the scripture….’cast your bread upon the waters and it will return to you on every wave.’
Gary taught this week Eph. 2: 10 that we have been created unto good works. God, by His Holy Spirit can make all sufficiency abound to us….that is….not just a little bit once in a while, not just a stingy little token, occasionally, but overflowing continuously.
So Yes, We must practice this, the art of giving so that all things may abound to those who are in need and even to ourselves by Christ Jesus.
Regarding good habit, I understand that it takes approximately 21-30 days to form a new habit. If that is true, than it stands to reason that the act of giving a penny a day for a hundred days should solidly form the good habit of giving. Giving less frequently, you may run the risk of getting sidetracked or distracted when the next 100th day comes to give again. If you have developed the habit of giving, then it’s likely you will be faithful in it no matter the outer circumstances nor inner emotion.
After reading this, I was reading and trying to find scripture on giving, give, giver, etc. As I read, a word came to my mind……………”steadfast”. So, this morning, I decided to read the definition of it: 1)firm 2)fixed 3)CONSTANT.
In the Book of Psalms, David prayed for a “steadfast spirit”(NIV) Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” IF we are steadfast (constant), in giving, forgiving, loving others, possessing the fruits of the spirit, praying, focusing our minds on the Lord, reading and applying God’s Word, etc. then I think we are less likely to “get sidetracked or distracted when the 100th day comes to give again”, love again, forgive again, pray again, etc. Thank you, Gary, for this “old wise saying”, it sure seems to put the subject of giving, into the right perspective!
I think it is great. Some years ago I feel in love with giving to “Operation Christmas Child” packing shoeboxes. I noticed that when I would collect daily a pencil, pen, coloring book, comb, toothpaste, toothbrush, toy, doll, etc. things that would fit perfectly in a shoebox I would be so happy ‘daily’ watching small items grown into a gift to be given to a very needy child for Christmas. Then, others would see my pencils, etc. and start doing the same and then we would add our gifts together and have lots of boxes. We would add our pocket change in a pretty tin can and make a loud sound to remind us to pray for the child that would receive our gifts as well as helping to pay to have them delivered.
Just think how attitudes change at our places of work, worship and home when we work together daily to give. Jesus joins in. How do I know? Jesus said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:25) Since He is the ONE I look to for blessings I expect them daily as I give daily. Don’t like those blessings stored up in heaven until the 100th day. I like daily blessings. I know He wants to give them daily because He taught me to pray, “Give us the day our daily bread- blessings.”
“Set your minds, (hands and hearts daily) and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth”
(Colossians 3:2,) I am not worried about my few pennies, pencils, toys, etc. I give them and set my heart toward heaven for the blessings.
I love this subject for its brings the help we need daily. Thanks Gary!
I don’t want to wait for the 100th day, for my blessing, either. I’m with you, Sara, I like daily blessings too! (“count your many blessings, name them one by one”) If we aren’t steadfast and constant our hearts may grow lukewarm? And that’s when Jesus will “spit us out of His mouth”.
Right Needles, just think 100 days is more than 3 months. Some of us can hardly remember what we need to do this week let alone 3 months from now. And, you sure got it right on the lukewarm, just look what Rev. 3:15 says, ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. You are right the church @Laodicea deeds’ must have been few and far between. They had it all and had need of nothing so they thought.
But look at the message that was given to the church @Philadelphia ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance (being steadfast) I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Yes, Sara, and look at the footnotes from my Bible for Rev. 3:15-16: “Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye ointment. But the city had always had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. but by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool–only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city. Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn’t take a stand for anything; indifference had led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself. There is nothing more disgusting than a half-hearted, nominal Christian who is self-sufficient. Don’t settle for following God halfway. Let Christ fire up your faith and get you into the action.”
That’s true, Needles. Jesus said to the Church at Laodicea that “you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other but because you are lukewarm, I am about to spit you out of My mouth. Repent. Those whom I love I admonish, correct and chastise.” Lack of zeal, focus and purose renders one LUKEWARM or tepid. That, as you mentioned above, is distasteful not only in drink but distateful to the Lord.
Gary has been teaching about the abundance of God’s blessings through the Holy Spirit and how we are to be abundantly generous, with concern for our fellow Cnristians who are in need in the Body of Christ. And it is true, the more one practices GIVING the more exciting and facile it is to give and keep on giving.
Another thought to keep my hand clicking with the giving…Luke 6:38 (CEV) “If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.”
“The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.” If I understand this correctly,this scripture of Sara’s gives ‘giving’ a very profound significance and definition. It shows that it is truly an issue of the heart and attitude that has a rebound or boomerang effect. Give out good, good comes back to you. Give out evil, evil comes back because that’s the ball you threw out or served. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ” Matthew 12:35.
Giving is serious business. Christ was our example in good giving. He gave words and deeds that brought Abundant Life to all who wanted it. He didn’t serve out evil to others or serve Himself.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
When I think of giving, I also think of spending – whether it is spending time or spending of ones resources (money, time, talents, wisdom, knowledge) to help another. Having researched spend I found this verse:
Isaiah 58:10 (New International Version)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Sounds like a good recipe for JOY to me.
Good thought, Rena. The purse is for others rather than self regardless of how you slice the pie.
When we look at the rewards of spending/giving it would be hard not to give. That would be forgetting all our benefits.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to BE SERVED, but TO SERVE, ..” Debi, now that is some food for thought!! We are to be like Him.
this thought came to me when I read what Gary wrote….Great is thy faithfulness O God my Father there is no shadow of turning in thee all I have needed thy hand has provided…….and His mercies are new every morning…..every morning…..not just every so often or once in a hundred days
From the Goldsboro News, Goldsboro, NC
Boy inspired by Bible tale to help others
After hearing the biblical story of the widow who gave all she had to the poor, 9-year-old Jonathan Yeager decided he wanted to try to do the same.
The result has been hundreds of dollars raised for such charities as Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, and most recently, a $600 donation to the Community Soup Kitchen.
The Wayne Christian School student raised the money by placing a change jar at his church every Sunday.
After hearing the story of the widow, Jonathan whispered in the ear of pastor Fred Clarke at First Christian Church, saying he wanted to give like the woman in the story — a penny at a time.
Clarke helped him come up with the idea of the jar, and the members of the congregation did their part.
After raising $500 for both Habitat and Meals on Wheels, this year Jonathan decided he wanted to help the soup kitchen.
So, he placed the jar in the church again. And from Sunday to Sunday, the pile of change grew.
Just recently, he was able to present a $600 check to soup kitchen Manager Doricia Benton.
She invited him to see just how his donation would help and asked if he would like to work in the kitchen one day, helping serve its clients.
“He truly does need to see who he is helping,” Mrs. Benton said.
With the economy hurting, the soup kitchen is seeing an increase in the number of people it serves, she said, and Jonathan’s eagerness to help is a sign that good-hearted people still care about helping those in need.
Mrs. Benton said the kitchen could end up serving as many as 40,000 meals by the end of the year.
“We’re already close to 10,000 meals in the past four months,” she said. Last year the soup kitchen served 27,370 meals.
Isaiah records, “and a little child shall lead them.”
I found this peom by Jim Davis
“Last night my little boy confessed to me
Some childish wrong;
And kneeling at my knee,
He prayed with tears:
‘Dear God make me a man,
Like Daddy—wise and strong!
I know you can.
Then while he slept,
I knelt beside his bed,
Confessed my sins,
And prayed with low bowed head:
‘O God, make me a child,
Like my child, here—
Pure, guileless,
Trusting you with faith sincere.”