The NIV 365 Day Devotional

You Can Never Outgive God

King David knew that God had prospered him and given him rest from all his enemies. One day he looked around at his comfortable home and said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent” (2Sa 7:2). He wanted to build a temple for God—no small undertaking.

But God had a much bigger gift in mind for David. He said, “The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me” (2Sa 7:11,16).

This story powerfully reminds us that we can never outgive God. While he invites our gifts and offerings, he will always give us far more than we could possibly give him. He will never be a debtor to anyone.

Jesus declared that anybody who gave one of his followers even a cup of water in his name would be lavishly rewarded (Mk 9:41). He once illustrated God’s generosity by describing how a wealthy man rewarded servants with multiple cities in return for their doubling the little bit of money he had given them (Mt 25:13–30). Peter once boasted to the Lord, “We have left all we had to follow you” (Lk 18:28). He probably expected a pat on the back. Instead Jesus told him, “Truly I tell you...no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life” (vv. 29–30).

In one of the clearest examples of this principle in Scripture, Jesus tells us, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Lk 6:38).

It’s just a fact: you can never outgive God.

Taken from the NIV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible.