GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU.

GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU "He that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse;" but "he that giveth unto the poor shall not lack" (Proverbs 28:27). Living a life of Christ is living a selfless life. Jesus sets an example for all His followers to practice. He gave all that He had, that is His life for the world without seeking anything in return. "Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil" (Luke 6:35). God pours His blessings upon all. "He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." He is "kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." He bids us to be like Him. "Bless them that curse you," said Jesus; "do good to them that hate you, . . . that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." These are the principles of the law, and they are the wellsprings of life" {DA 311.1}. We need not to have much or wait till all our visions and aspirations are fulfilled before we give. We ought to value what we have and share with others believing that all good and perfect gifts come from God. As we give, let’s claim the promises in the Scripture and by faith believe that it is so. If we deprive others of what God has blessed us with, then we cannot claim God’s promise. The Lord bids us to be merciful as He is merciful. Great blessings await all who give out. Just as God increased the food in the store house of the widow who gave all that she had to the prophet, so will He do it abundantly for all who believe in His word and give out to help others. Only if we believe in the word of God will this promise be ours: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Luke 6:38).