(By Kim)
This is post no 6 in our series ‘Seeking the Heart of God For Your Finances’. If you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to mail it to us at: [email protected]
I find one of the most remarkable revelations spoken by Jesus was this : It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
In the new covenant that we so boastfully claim to be a part of, God expects us to be radical givers! He wants us to give – give for the cause of the gospel, give to the poor and needy, give to the widow and orphans, give to your brother in need..
Here are are six reasons why we should give:
1. Because our Daddy gives!
We should give because we now have a divine nature. Your giving will show to the world who your daddy is! As children, God calls us to be His imitators ( Ephesians 5:1).
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:7 But since you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you, see that you also excel in the grace of giving.
In other words you may have a faith like mountain, you may be excellent in your preaching and have great knowledge of His word, but make sure you are ‘not just good’, but ‘better than the best’ when it comes to GIVING!
2. Because Giving exposes your heart
Giving will expose the content and intent of your heart like no other. In Mark 10:17-22, we read about the devout young man who wanted to follow Jesus. But when Jesus asked him to give, it exposed his heart. And he walked away.
Many of us are like this man – “Lord use me because I have walked faithfully with you. Use me because I know your Word. Use me because I regularly attend the church. Use me because I am better than others.” But how is our giving?
In contrast we read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19 – as soon as Jesus came into his life, he decided to give half of his possessions to poor and repay four times to those who he had cheated.
Luke 16:11 says, So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
3. Because it breaks the stronghold of money in your life
The biggest deterrent to giving is fear, the fear that if I give away too much I won’t have enough!
But look at the widow who offered to God her two mites, all that she had. Look at the widow of Zarephath who served her last batch of flour to the man of God. Look at the woman who broke her expensive alabaster jar at the feet of Jesus. You think God would have left them the way they were after they what they did?
Many of us have not really submitted to the Lordship of Jesus in the area of money and that’s the only reason we struggle to give. Then there’s this attitude that – what I have is mine, I have earned it, why should I give? But aren’t we simply stewards?
Giving is the best way you can break the stronghold of money over your life!
4. Because giving is not an option
According to 1 John 4:20,21 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
You can’t really love without giving, but you can give without loving.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them. (Proverbs 19:17).
Jesus many times said, “WHEN” you give…(Mathew 6:2-3,4) and not “IF” you give. This means He expects His children to give. Proverbs 21:26 says, Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly live to give.
According to James 1:27, Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
When you give, you choose to honour God and honouring God is not an option!
5. Because your giving can bring you to God’s attention
Your giving catches the attention of God, almost the way worship does! Philippians 4:18 says, Your gifts are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God.
Acts 10:1-4 speaks about a devout gentile called Cornelius. He was a generous giver and he ‘distinctly’ saw an angel of God appear to him. The angel mentioned to him that how his prayers and giving had blessed the heart of God. This was a watershed chapter in the New Testament as God opened Peter’s eyes to the fact that the gospel of grace was now made available to us, the Gentiles! Isn’t it amazing how one man’s selfless giving played a trigger in this?
In the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit revival took place, we read how the believers sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had a need (Acts 2:45). I strongly believe when our giving reaches this level of extravagance, true revival is near!
6. Because your giving stores up treasures in heaven
Jesus said in Matthew 6:19, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on here moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
The easiest way to store treasures in heaven is to give to the poor (Mark 10:21).
Also the real treasure in heaven is the souls. And how can souls be reached unless someone is sent to preach the gospel? (Romans 10:14-15). Here is where your giving can open doors!
Stay tuned for the concluding post in this series…