Joyful Giving

 

The Bible teaches us many principles for living as the children of God. I like to call these the Kingdom Principles. One such principle is regarding giving. It may be giving to God, or to others; either as tithes and offerings or as gifts of money, things or time.

Why give?

God is the source of all our blessings:

James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth”.

So, our giving to the LORD acknowledges Him as the source of all our blessings; it shows our gratefulness; and it honors & glorifies Him.

Our giving is God’s provision to the Church and to his children in need:

Malachi 3:8-10 challenges us,

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,

and try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

God commanded His people to bring their tithes into God’s house so that there is provision for the missions, ministries and workers of the Church. Let us also take note of verse 8 that warns us that failing to bring the offerings and tithes into God house is outright robbery and an offence that can land a curse upon us and our children.

He who provided us abundantly in the first place even challenges us saying, when you bless my house abundantly from what I gave you, I will return it back to you, multi-fold, that there is no room for you to contain the blessing. In case the Holy Spirit convicts us regarding this, let us repent and renounce this immediately that we may move from a curse to a blessing.

And the corollary can be said as, “Stinginess toward God would make God stingy toward you”. We can actually turn away God’s proposal of abundant blessing by withholding our hands and being stingy toward His missions, ministries and His house.

So, what have you given God that He may multiply it for you? It’s not the amount He is worried about; it is the willingness with which you have offered your best (within your means) that God desires. And when we put in our best, he promises to pour till there is no room to receive!

How should we give?

Attitude matters:

Both Cain and Abel brought offerings to the LORD. Abel’s offering was accepted. However, Cain’s offering was rejected. And this is what God said to Cain regarding his offering in Genesis 4:7

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Notice what God said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?”. God didn’t say, “will not your offering be accepted?”. Therefore, giving is not about the offering we bring or the money we give, but it is about offering ourselves. As the creator of the whole world, God is not in need of our gold and silver. However, He loves it when we offer ourselves wholly to Him. And our tithes and offerings must only be an outworking of giving ourselves to God and an act of obedience to Him.

Give ungrudgingly:

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

When you plan your giving, first pray. Ask the LORD what He wants you to give? Decide the amount, ask the LORD to bless it. Once you have peace in your heart about the amount, give it whole heartedly, ungrudgingly and willingly to the LORD. Jesus loves a cheerful giver. He pointed to a widow who put just 2 copper coins into the offertory box and said in Mark 12:43,44

 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.”

No strings attached giving:

There are so many lessons that the LORD wants to teach us regarding giving. God says. “Don’t curtail your reward to just an earthly one”. Jesus in His sermon on the mount spoke about giving in Matthew 6:1, where He called out clearly the offence that many of us make in giving to the LORD. Giving to the LORD adds a reward to our account in heaven. But when we give to impress others or with a competitive spirit or to show-off, these motives become our reward. Jesus says that such persons will have no reward in heaven. So, what is the reward you are seeking?

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven

FINALLY, WILL “YOU” BE ACCEPTED IN YOUR GIVING?

Let us invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts to see if “WE” will be accepted in our giving. Let’s remember, God is in no need for our money, but giving is just a test of our gratitude and our attitude in giving. Let us repent of anything that the Holy Spirit convicts, and give ourselves whole-heartedly & our gifts joyfully to the LORD. Amen.