I love the beauty of the low country and beaches of the Carolinas where we have often vacationed. I especially enjoy my early morning quiet times,  watching the sun rising out of the ocean. The colors in the sky speak of God’s splendor, the sounds of the pounding surf of His power and vastness, and the variety of wildlife of the pleasure He takes in His creation. Truly, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech;  night after night they display knowledge” ([Psalm 19:1-2](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Ps%2019.1-2)).

John Piper expresses the idea this way in his book, *The Pleasures of God*:

> *Day  pours forth the ‘speech’ of that message to all who will listen in the  day, speaking with blindingly bright sun and blue skies and clouds and  untold shapes and colors of all things visible. Night pours forth  ‘knowledge’ of the same message to all who will listen at night,  speaking with great dark voids and summer moons and countless stars and  strange sounds and cool breezes and northern lights.Day and night are saying one thing: God is glorious! God is glorious! God is glorious!*

Of course, nowhere was God’s glory more marvelously displayed than in  Jesus. “For God…made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” ([2 Corinthians 4:6](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/2%20Cor%204.6)).  If we want the glory of God magnified before the nations of the world,  we must introduce them to Jesus. That’s where The Great Commission comes in. God has opened a window of opportunity for you to play a part in its fulfillment. You can pray for it. You can serve in it. And you can give toward it.

Your giving glorifies God as it provides you with:

- __An opportunity to humbly acknowledge that all you have is a gift from Him.__ “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,  ‘...Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? *Everything comes from you*, *and we have given you only what comes from your hand*” ([1 Chronicles 29:10](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Chron%2029.10), [13-14](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/1%20Chronicles%2029.13-14)).
- __An opportunity to prove you love Him more than things.__ “O God, you are my God, *earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,* in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.... My soul clings to you;  your right hand upholds me” ([Psalm 63:1-3](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Ps%2063.1-3), [8](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Psalm%2063.8)).
- __An opportunity to demonstrate that you truly trust God’s promises.__ “[The gifts you sent] are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my *God will meet all your needs* according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” ([Philippians 4:18b-19](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Phil%204.18b-19)).
- __An opportunity to lead others into a round of praising God.__ “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, *men will praise God* for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and *for your generosity* in sharing with them and with everyone else” ([2 Corinthians 9:13](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/2%20Cor%209.13)).
- __An opportunity to contribute to building His kingdom rather than your own.__ “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. . . . And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times,  having all that you need, *you will abound in every good work*” ([2 Corinthians 9:6](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/2%20Cor%209.6), [8](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/2%20Corinthians%209.8)).

When you consider the results that flow from our giving, it’s easy to see why God loves a cheerful giver. As we take advantage of the opportunities listed above, we bring joy to our heavenly Father’s heart.  But time is fleeting. May God grant that we act while there is time,  for the window will soon be closing — either Christ will return for His bride, or we will end our life here and go to be with Him. We must not  presume that “there’s always next year.” There’s not. There’s not always next month, or even next week.

__It’s my prayer that the Lord will expand your heart so that you generously give back to Him. It’s the only appropriate response for those of us who have received God’s forgiveness and “the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of His glory” ([Ephesians 1:13-14](https://biblia.com/bible/niv/Eph%201.13-14)).__

__[Image](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/your-window-of-opportunity-is-closing)__ used with permission

Since 1990, do-it-yourself Christian investors have relied on SMI for proven strategies and trustworthy guidance.

Sound Mind Investing

Faith and Finance

When you consider the results that flow from our giving, it’s easy to see why God loves a cheerful giver.

VERSES | Aug 21, 2024

Your Window of Opportunity Is Closing

By: Austin Pryor

Since 1990, do-it-yourself Christian investors have relied on SMI for proven strategies and trustworthy guidance.

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