Generosity as an act of love and as a weapon of warfare
Many people struggle through life with the hope of being remembered when things go wrong and especially when the enemy wants to trouble them. Let’s read a few Bible stories where people were remembered in a supernatural manner.
In Acts 10:1-6, the Bible states:
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Notice that Cornelius was a Gentile and his prayers and gifts to the poor both went up to God as a memorial offering before God.
Take note of the following: ‘Cornelius memorial offering was made of both prayers and offerings to the poor’
In Matthew 26:6-13, the Bible records the following:
“ While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you,but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Take note of what Jesus mentions about the woman: ‘...wherever the Gospel will be preached, what she had done will also be told, in memory of her.’
In Mark 12:41-43, the Bible records the following story:
‘Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’
Note that the poor widow was the central character of the story and her act has been told and remembered throughout the centuries.
In Psalm 41:1-3, the Bible says:
'Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
The Lord protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness'
The Bible states that the Lord delivers those who have regard for the weak. Notice as well that in Psalm 41:2, the Bible says that God does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The second verse is also a reference to enemies, whether natural or supernatural (sorcerers or witches) who wish to annihilate the righteous. By showing care for the weak and poor, we increase the distance between us and our foes. ‘Giving to the weak and poor’ is not just an act of love but it can also become a weapon of protection and warfare.
Generosity coupled with prayer can become a memorial to God. When in trouble, the prayerful and righteous person will be delivered and no amount of wickedness or sorcery will overpower him/her.
This is one of the reasons why the enemy hates generosity or conversations (messages) related to generosity.
Generosity makes it hard for the enemy to work and destroy.
Generosity is an act of love and it can also become a tool of protection in warfare.