UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLES OF GIVING (1)

SOW IN A GOOD LAND

TEXTS: Exodus 35:29; Luke 6:38

God is both interested and committed to the physical components of the church which include the building, facilities and humans that do His work. As much as emphasis and priority is accorded to spirituality, the physicality should never be ignored. God is not against building Church structures provided they are in line with His will and His work. He identifies with the needs of the Church such as lands, instruments, payments of salaries, etc.

More so, it is not wisdom for a man to expect angels to descend from Heaven and build physical structures for Church or places of worship. It is not wisdom to expect angels to take foods to the pastor’s house for him and the family or to expect the man of God to pray for instantaneous multiplication of the almost finished food stuff at home. It is obvious that there are necessities in the body of Christ and it is believers responsibilities to be committed to meeting these needs.

People do not give for many reasons. Some do not know how to give, some have been victims of gospel commercialization (no thanks to gospel prosperity merchants), and still some people are stingy. To claim to love and serve God yet your money does not flow in the direction of God’s work; that love is questionable. You not only owe God your heart, you owe Him all your life – your money and other resources. If God does not have access to your money then money has become an idol to you.

It is scriptural to give and to be taught and told to give. Jesus taught giving;

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

There are many things to be done in the name of God, in the house of God and for the fulfilment of God’s purpose. The resources do not fall from Heaven. God has given it to people but some of the people do not know God gave them what they have so that He can use it for His work. It is not everything that enters your hand that should enter your mouth! Your tithe is for God. You must give other offerings to God. You must give to people – the needy, servants of God, etc.

When Moses was to embark on the work of the sanctuary, the people ‘willingly brought offerings unto the Lord’ (Exodus 35:29; 36:5-7). At a point, they were bringing too much and Moses told them to stop bringing. At the construction of the temple, people gave for God’s work as well.

It scriptural to give; no doubt. Anyone encouraging you against giving to God’s work is speaking with another spirit and not God’s Spirit. Even the Holy Spirit is a giver just like the Father and the Son are givers. However, there are some dimensions of giving and receiving that are unscriptural. Not all grounds are good grounds and if you put your seed there, it would be waste.

>>> TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW