Christian Giving; Other Conditions.

Merry Christmas!!!

I am so glad I’m writing to you on Christmas Day and though unplanned, I’m writing to you about Christian giving, a topic I started two weeks ago.

Two weeks ago, I wrote to you about the motivation of Christian giving and last week, a short writeup on some conditions of Christian giving. Today, I am concluding the topic with some other conditions of Christian giving. I strongly recommend you read the last two posts, it’ll bless you.

So in this Yuletide, there are many gifts flying around, much love to go around. It is really beautiful, you see. However, many think the Yuletide is the best time to give. Well, verily verily I say unto you, it’s as good a time to give as it is to give on the 15th of January (I know you’re wondering what happens on the 15th of January… Absolutely nothing! Which is my point exactly). So, my post is in no way encouraging you to give in this season, No, it is not, because it’ll go against scripture which encourages to give every time (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

The conditions today will be from various parts of scriptures.

1. Ecclesiastes 11:5 (KJV)
“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”

I remember when I wrote on the motivation of giving, I outright stated that receiving is not to be the motivation for giving even though there are rewards. What I didn’t mention which is the point I’m about to make is that even when you receive, you can not tell which giving brought it. The idea of giving and watching out for the reward is so common in the Pentecostal circle.

I think it is a proud thing to say I got $500 because I gave $5, especially because the word already says we cannot ascertain (Matthew 25:35-37). Again I say, there are rewards for giving but the Bible says you don’t know the way of the spirit, you don’t know which one will do well. Except the Lord opens your eyes to know what seed is producing what fruit, you cannot tell. Listen to me, you will be tempted to think this way especially when you give someone something and immediately get something in return.

I remember once I gave out something that was quite precious to me and in no time, I got more back and I was tempted to think my seed had germinated and produced that but I asked God to help me believe His word more than an experience. I immediately understood that God simply provided what I needed even as He used me to provide what someone else needed.

I know that some may say “well I don’t agree with this because I have an avalanche of experiences. I gave something and got something in return.”

I believe you have these experiences but by the word of God I tell you that you can’t know how God worked it. Therefore, stop trying to “use your seed to target a particular reward”, righteousness doesn’t work that way.

Brethren, you’ve freely received, hence, freely give.

2. Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Often times, the reason we find it difficult to give bountifully is because we do not believe.
Smith Wigglesworth calls some people “unbelieving believers”… These are people who believe in Jesus and are saved but are still carnal in their living… People who do not believe the teachings of Jesus. If you fall in this category, you may be Born Again but will find it difficult to live the new life because you really have not believed the teachings of Jesus. I also noticed that if you reject one part of the word of God, you can’t live out the others.
So now, when Jesus says take no thought for tomorrow, when we do, we can’t give to people today because we are trying to save up for tomorrow. We do not trust God to provide for tomorrow.

Am I therefore encouraging waste? No, I am not. However, if someone is in need and you can’t help because you’re taking thought of tomorrow, then you are in error.

Listen to me friend, take no thought of tomorrow, free your heart of that burden and let love fill your heart as you trust in God and let His grace find expression in your giving.

3. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Our giving must be voluntary. You see, God will not nag you to give. He didn’t nag Abraham to give Isaac, He didn’t nag Solomon to give the animal offering, He didn’t nag David to give towards building the temple, He didn’t nag Noah to give the burnt sacrifice. The offerings that really spoke volumes were the ones given from a voluntary and joyful heart.

Though in the old testament, giving was made compulsory, God often times said He was tired of their mindless sacrifices and gifts not because He didn’t command it but because He would have preferred that they were more genuine. God loves a CHEERFUL giver. God loves the one who decides to give not the one who gives after the person holding the microphone has promised heaven and earth (talking about giving in church). Listen, God loves the man who has a heart ready to give… His heart is already made up to give every chance he gets. A man who seeks for every opportunity to give and not receive, this man, God loves.

Now to the final point. It is in no way the least point. I personally regard it as the most important and for that reason, I put it last. I wouldn’t want you to forget it at all. It is what many of us have forgotten especially teachers of God’s Word. We focus more on the frequency of giving, the size and weight of the gift and forget the weightier matter that God considers.

4. 2 Corinthians 8:5 (KJV)
“And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

Listen friend, giving must first be in giving your whole self. It must be the giving of your body, your soul and your spirit. If you remember the story of Cain and Abel very well, you will remember that it was not first his gift that was rejected but he was first rejected. You see, God is not impressed by the material gift. If God will be impressed, He’ll be impressed with your heart. You must first give yourself to Him.

You can imagine expecting God to be impressed with you because you give so much but you are an unrepentant corrupt Judge, or you think God will be impressed with your tithe given from stolen money or money gotten dubiously. Listen my friend, if you try that, you are only quickening your judgement because it’s like you came to report yourself to God with that tithe and offering of yours, no matter how much it is. Hold on a moment, has it ever occurred to you that currency has no value in the spirit realm? Have you ever thought of that? So how exactly do you think you are impressing God with the heavy envelope or other forms of giving you are practicing? You may impress the Pastor or the receiver but definitely not God because He sees the heart. Do you want to impress God? Then give yourself to Him, surrender all you are, make Him all you are about, make Him your Lord, learn His ways and live as His spirit enables you, then can we say you are on the path of being called a good and faithful servant… Because you believe in Him.

Have you given yourself? What do you live for?

These are not questions to just summarize the post, I encourage you to ask yourself frankly. Allow God search you and convict you.

Why are you in a hurry to leave the place of His searchlight? Do you fear what you might find in your heart?

It’s really simple. If you realize you’ve not been living for Him, just a hearty prayer of repentance and decision to live for Him, asking Him to teach you His ways and enable you to walk accordingly will go a long way.

I’ll write to you next week.

Compliments of the Season.

Don’t forget to share this. I’d like to read a comment from you. Liking is not bad either.

Thank you and God Bless You.

Photo source: https://images.app.goo.gl/1e4UPTg3xi64yiPWA

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