|
|
|
|
Principle Of Giving Giving is the spirit of generosity. The more freely we give, the more we are like Him who gave all to save us. The exact opposite of generosity is covetousness and greed. Greed is now accepted as normal in America because “you owe it to yourself to have and live the way you want,” not the way of the Word of Truth. To get – to take – and to have is in our blood. New International Version tells us Luke 12:15 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” If we are to walk in the glory of God, we must embrace the principle of giving. “For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) If you want the abundance of living now, then remember to give no matter what. The Lord gives to us: · After we have given to others · The same substance we have given · In the same measure we have given · Through people 1. He gives – after we have given to others: “You give, and then it shall be given to you.” (Luke 6:38). The order of action is most important. First we give and then God will act. As creatures of habit and greed, we naturally hold back, waiting on God to move first. We want Him to give so we have something to share with others. But He says, trust me beyond what you see and have, and give by faith. Whatever our present resources are is the key to giving. Whether we are in abundance or in need, we must start the process. The widow of Zarephath demonstrates this. She was getting ready to fix her last meal for her son and then wait to die (I Kings 17) Elijah came and said, feed me first. Why? Because he knew the order in which God works. Despite the personal needs of this widow woman, God’s principle of giving called for her to act first. Whatever she had, the little that she had was to be given. That released God’s hands to reward her according to His Word. 1 Kings 17:14 “For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.” This is why get rich quick schemes are an entrapment. Establish your standards by God’s Word, not the way of the world. You give first and God will always provide for you. 2. He gives-The same substance we have given: “Give and it (what you have given) shall be given unto you” (Luke.6:38) After we have given, Jesus repays us in “kind” – He returns the same kinds of things we have given. If we give money, He gives us money. If we hoard our money, our money will be taken from us. If we forgive, He sends forgiveness. If we give our time, He gives us time. He is a Reciprocator – recompensing with the same substance we have given. 3. He gives – in the same measure we have given: “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38) This depicts the market place where containers were used for bartering or buying goods. He says the same container we use to measure our gifts to the church will be used by God to measure His gifts to us. That is why we don’t sing any longer “Fill my cup, Lord.” We need our baskets filled. If we give a handful, we get a handful. If we give a bushel full, we will be filled with blessings so great it will be difficult to carry. The Lord begins to pour out; He shakes it so to settle it down, then He compacts it and throws some extra on top – if we are giving people. (If a farmer only plants a half-acre with seed, he will not reap a 20-acre harvest.) 2 Corinthians 9:6 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 4. He gives through people: “…shall men give into your bosom.” (Luke 6:38) Divine gifts are delivered by human hands. When God repays us for our giving, His favor and grace flow to us through people and usually through other people than those to whom we have given. The gifts of God normally come through ordinary folks in ordinary settings in ordinary times. The Lord always recompenses those who give, but not necessarily when we expect. In 2 Kings 8 there was a Shunammite woman whose son Elisha raised from the dead. He told the woman to leave all that she had along with her family and to go wherever she could find because a famine was coming to the land. To save her life, she had to give everything - - home, possessions, land and income. For seven years she went into the Philistines’ land. We are not told what, if anything she was given, only that she survived. God deliberately withheld from her to test her faith and loyalty to Him. At the appointed time she returned to her land. Through King Jehoram, the Lord announced, “Restore all that was hers, and all the fruit of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.” (2 Kings 8:6) Ecclesiastes 11:1 “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. The Spirit of Jesus’ life is generosity, not greed. His passion was to do the will of the Father, not to hoard. Truth, not materialism ruled His heart. The principle of giving is “not to get more, but to give more.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:6 6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. One way or the other God will bless your personal economy. Due to His divine favor, your personal needs will be abundantly supplied – So that you can give more. Obedience to the principle will establish the miraculous cycle of charity in place of greed. We are told about the church of Laodicea that false teachers will come in twisting the principle of giving for their own financial profit (2 Peter 2). They have made merchandise of the sheep. Anyone who takes advantage of God’s sheep for personal gain will answer to God. Nowhere does God promise to make Christians wealthy. That is the love of the world and the god of this world. 1 Tim.6:5 (NIV) “Constant friction between men of corrupt minds, have been robbed of the truth and thinking that godliness is a means to financial gain.” Each time the Lord calls us to give up something of a material importance it is because He is wanting to give us something of a spiritual blessing. God converts our natural sacrifice into spiritual resources to affect the ministry that He is in charge of. The greater the sacrifice the greater the spiritual blessing. To the Laodiceans the Lord said, “buy gold tried in the fire to be rich; white raiment to be clothed; and eyesalve to see.” God is ready to pour out a blessing so great there will not be room enough to receive it all. (Mal.3:10) -Pr. Steve January Newsletter 2005 | Principle of Giving | Attention Deficit Disorder Pastor's Journal January 2004 | Better Than Gold | Storehouses and Treasures part 1 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
|
|
Copyright © 1995-2007 Living Word Christian
Fellowship, Inc.
|
