Last month I purchased a book from a well know ministry in the southern part of the country. I was interested in learning more about the topic the minister was talking about so I went to the web site and bought the book.
The next day I got an Email confirming the purchase and the shipping information which I appreciated. Two days after that I received another Email saying the book should arrive soon.
The next week I got an Email asking if I'd like to know more about the ministry. Then the letters started to come. In one of the letters they asked me if I'd like to put them in my will and leave them some money. And then would I like to support them now etc. etc. etc.
Needless to say I will steer clear of that ministry and their corporate games to raise money.
I know as well as you do that America has made a business out of fund raising. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent in research and development on fund raising. They send you a request and then they spend a significant part of the gift you send them paying for more requests, letters, calendars, pens, stickers, etc. Is it any wonder that Christians are sick of giving? If ten percent gets to the cause you're lucky after the overhead is removed. And then if that doesn't work they try to guilt you into giving. Such a travesty.
And you know who gets the blame for man's way of doing business? God, that's who. God does not need your money; but by the same token we tell God we don't need his blessings when we don't give with the right heart.
When we choose not to put him first and acknowledge him as our sufficiency, we think we can do things without his advice. The thought seldom occurs to us that it's because of God that we live and breathe and have our life in the first place.
Acts 17:28a For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
We seem to forget that's if it wasn't for God we would not even be here.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 2 Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
When God is in our heart and thoughts we are mindful of him and the many blessings he has abundantly given us. Giving is just one way of demonstrating that God is in our hearts and thoughts. Some think that they can't afford to give so they withhold their giving to God. As logical as this may seem to man it produces just the opposite in the spirit realm.
Proverbs 11:24-25 24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Any farmer knows this truth. You cannot expect a harvest if you don't sow the seeds. You see God does not think the same way that man thinks when it comes to finances.
Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Giving of your finances is one way to show that you honor God.
Proverbs 3:9-10 9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. No one is ever the poorer by honoring the LORD.
God always honors his word and will bless you throughout your life.
Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Where do you give so you can honor the LORD? You give to where you learn and fellowship and grow in the LORD.
ESV 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
No one can tell you how much you should give; that's between you and God.
Philippians 4:15-19 15Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18But 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, wellpleasing to God. 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The Philippian church was faithful and they supported the apostle Paul. Although he freely taught many, it was the Philippian church that supported his ministry. And in doing so, he said their gift was an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. Paul did not desire a gift - his heart was that fruit would abound to their account.
NLT Philippians 4:17 I don't say this because I want a gift from you. What I want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your kindness.
You can never out give God. And when you practice the principles of God's word he always blesses you.
A few years back I would go to some local retirement homes on Sunday afternoon and have a little fellowship for the people. I bring a few of the believers someone would play the guitar and sing I teach the bible and we would pray with the people. I would put a plate on the table and told the people if they wanted to put something in it fine and if not that's fine to. I was not there to take their money but on the same token I wanted them to be able to give if they wanted to.
We never came away with more than 15 or so dollars but it blessed them to put a buck in if they wanted to. This was a retirement home mid-grade and at that time I'm sure it was thousands a month to be there.
The girl that was in charge saw that I put a plate out and came to me and told me that I had to remove it. She claimed to be a Christian that believed in tithing etc. So I asked her if she was aware that if I took the plate away I would be withholding God's word from them in the area of giving.
She told me yes and so I put the plate in my briefcase and taught the meeting. When I was finished an elderly lady came up to me and asked where the plate was. The girl who told me to put the plate away was just walking by so I sent the woman over to her and told her to ask why the plate was not there anymore.
God is wonderful needless to say she wasn't very happy needing to explain her actions.
The whole situation reminded me of the man who approached the minister one Sunday after the service to complain about what he was teaching. He told the minister as long as he was preaching he was fine but once he started to touch home he was meddling.
I did not go back to teach there anymore. Not because of the money, because the moment I capitulate to an ungodly standard I will leave the ministry. That's honest. A minister must hold the line even if everyone else does not. This is why the church is in such bad shape. Homosexual lies being taught are deceiving the people into thinking it's God's will for a man to be with another man etc. And you know who teaches these lies? Counterfeit ministers who have no spine and cower to the world view of the devil.
Sowing and reaping is a spiritual law set forth in God's word. If you want the benefit of it like all of God's principals you must apply them.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
You will never be the poorer for giving to God and the things of God.
God bless you.