GAINING THROUGH GIVING

TRETS 29-11-2018

GAINING THROUGH GIVING

Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27

The world will be a better place to live in if the children of God can discover the secrets of blessings that are inherent in the act of giving. Giving is a virtue that has its root in God. God gave His Son; the Son gave His life for humanity; the Spirit gives us the grace and strength to make the Christian life easy. God wants us to cultivate the attitudes of giving in our lives. The Lord Himself emphasised the importance of giving when he said that: “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). Paul the apostle re-presented the message of the Lord in Acts 20:35; “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

1.   THE POWER OF GIVING Acts 20:35; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 4:15-19; Proverbs 19:17

Giving opens the treasure house of Heaven to the giver. God honours giver with divine provision as He says that “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Proverbs 11:25). Paul exhorted the believers in Ephesus to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). In recognising the liberality (giving) of the Philippian believers, Paul the apostle has this to say: “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:18-19). There is a saying that says “Givers Never Lack”; part of the blessings accrued to the giver is the fact that he can never lack because God will always meet his needs. Divine favour will always be upon him and his children too are blessed wherever they go. Some calamities that ought to befall him are divinely taken away by divine providence. The list of the blessings for the giver is unlimited.

2.   THE PRINCIPLES FOR GIVING Malachi 3:10-12 Corinthians 8:1-5; Luke 6:38; Philippians 4:15; Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27; Genesis 25:27; 1 Samuel 25:4-11

The basic thing God expects from you regularly is your tithes and and offerings as stated in Malachi 3. After giving your tithes, there are other needs that may arise in the church and you need to give to support the kingdom service, like mission outreaches, construction works in the local church or central church etc. Apart from giving for the kingdom works, we have needy brethren in the church that we need to care for; it is our responsibilities to assist those that are in need among us and those that are doing one ceremony or the other, like marriage for themselves or their children, naming, burial etc. Giving should not be taken for laziness, as the Scriptures says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that, “...if any would not work, neither should he eat.” We need to however warn ourselves of the attitudes of people like Jacob who tempted his brother to sell his birth right to him at his crucial hour of need and that of Nabal who insulted the servants of David that came to him for assistance. 

3.   THE PRACTICE OF GIVING 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27; Philippians 4:15-19; Deuteronomy 15:11

Giving should be part of our lifestyle. We shouldn’t attach any condition to giving, of course once in a while you may decide that if a miracle happens you will give something tangible to the Lord, you don’t use the gift to bribe God but you want to use it to appreciate God’s goodness in your life. Some people are very faithful in paying their tithes and offerings, but when it comes to extra giving for needs in the church or to the needy brethren, they shut their hearts and hands; this is not fair, we should make giving part of our Christian service and a way of life. You should cultivate giving habit and always think of doing good to someone every time. Put a smile on someone’s face today by letting God use you to meet his or her needs and watch God surprising you with bountiful blessings in return.