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The Ministry of the Open Hand

The Ministry of the Open Hand. Deuteronomy 15:10-11. I. We are to assist others generously. Giving generously means not holding onto what we have, but opening our hand to those in need (v. 8). Giving generously to other is the same as giving to the Lord (Matt. 25:35-44).

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The Ministry of the Open Hand

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  1. The Ministry of the Open Hand Deuteronomy 15:10-11

  2. I. We are to assist others generously. • Giving generously means not holding onto what we have, but opening our hand to those in need (v. 8). • Giving generously to other is the same as giving to the Lord (Matt. 25:35-44).

  3. Giving generously to others will be rewarded, though that should not be our motivation in giving (Luke 6:38). • We are to give expecting nothing in return (v. 9).

  4. II. We are to assist others with the right attitude. • Two attitudes work against open-handed giving: hard-heartedness and tight-fistedness (v. 7). • Giving, if done out of a “stingy heart,” will not be blessed by God. • Giving with the right attitude is illustrated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.

  5. He says the Macedonians gave even when they were in “deep poverty” themselves. • They begged Paul to allow them to give. That’s giving with the right attitude.

  6. III. We are to assist others because needs are always present. • Jesus reminded us that there would always be poor people (Matt. 25:11). • Every generation has its poor people. Though some create their own poverty by their actions, many are poor through no control of their own.

  7. The earthquakes, hurricanes, and the tsunami in Southeast Asia over the last two years have reduced hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to poverty beyond their control. • It has recently been estimated that the recovery of the Gulf Coast region alone may take 25 years.

  8. Those people must have physical, as well as monetary, assistance. Disaster Relief teams will be needed for a long time to come.

  9. IV. We are to assist others because God commands it. • God says we “must willingly open [our] hand” to those who are afflicted and poor. • His words are not optional—they are a command to be obeyed.

  10. God repeatedly commanded that those in need be provided for (Lev. 19:10, 33; 23:22; 25:35-38; Deut. 24:14, 19-21). • The implication of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-44 is that those commands are still applicable to us today.

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