So, last time you first learned that in order to really be able to give Biblically, you must believe, really believe, that giving away results in more, not less. That more is not necessarily financial in nature but something much more important and valuable. Not only that but His Word guarantees that there will always be a blessing when you give. Second, you learned the amazing truth that He doesn’t need your money … because its already all His in the first place! Because of that reality, there are several consequences and I shared the first: this whole process of giving back to Him is completely for our benefit. If you don’t remember all of this, I encourage you to go back and re-read that post. Now on to the second consequence.
The second consequence to the fact that God does not need your money, and this leads to the second main point with Godly giving and WHO we are to give to. Although we normally give to specific organizations or individuals, our heart has a better chance of being cheerful when we remind ourselves that we are giving first and foremost to the Lord for use in such and such organization or individual. Recall in the previous post, we reminded ourselves that our giving results in treasure being stored in heaven.
So, beyond the benefit our giving may produce for individuals or organizations here on earth, the ultimate benefit IS in the heavenly realm. Two Old Testament passages make this a little clearer. In both Exod 25:1-2 and 1 Chron 29:9, note carefully what it says:
Ex 25:1-2: The Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering.
1 Chron 29:9: The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord.
In both of these passages, note that there were physical things given for a specific purpose, but that the attitude of the giver was that it was given first to the Lord, and secondarily, for the purpose indicated. Do you know why I think God wants it this way? I think that it's to keep our ego out of the process. Recall that everything is God's anyway and we are just giving back to Him what He has given us (1 Chron 29:16). Yet, isn't it possible that we can forget that and start thinking that WE are giving to the organization or individual?
Let me share with you the best example I have ever come across to bring this point home. The late Pastor Ron Ritchie, formerly of Peninsula Bible Church in Menlo Park, CA, shared this actual experience in one of his early sermons there:
Several years ago a friend of mine who had four sons asked me to come with him to look at a car. He showed me a 1966 Mustang and asked, "How do you like it?" I said, "It's beautiful. Which son are you going to give it to? He said, "Oh, I didn't buy it for my sons, I bought it for you." What can you do at a time like that? You just stand there, flabbergasted. He said, "Get in and we'll take a drive." I started to drive around, and all of a sudden I realized that he was giving it to ME. So I stopped driving and said, "I cannot accept this car, unless you're willing to give it to the Lord, and let me take care of it." He said, "Ah, I see what you mean." Here was a man who loved the Lord. He sat there and bowed his head and said, "Lord, I give this to You." You see, when he gave it to the Lord, there were no strings on me. I was one of his counselors, and since there were problems from time to time in his family, I could come home without worrying about, "Oh yes, this is the man who gave me the car." I could go freely in the car that he gave to God, and we'd never have to talk about it again.
So, we are to give first and foremost to the Lord. That is to be our attitude. Then we can seek His guidance on specifically who to give His resources to, knowing that we are just a conduit and not the source.
· Now, are you to use due diligence to try to make sure that your offerings are used wisely? Of course – after all, this is His money.
· Is the first part of your offering to go to the local church? Let me address that in the next post because it takes a bit of time to explain. I will give you a hint, however, by sharing that when giving to God is done in the right way, there is always an abundance of resources to build His kingdom … and it will be done cheerfully, not reluctantly or under compulsion.
Finally, let me share the greatest motivation possible – the WHY - to give as the Lord has prospered you: God guarantees that not only will He bless you when you give, you get far more back than what you gave!
Do you remember 2 Corinthians 9:8, which follows the “giving cheerfully” guidance in verse 6?
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
And verse 11 of that same chapter says:
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion …
Let me have you read two more just to reinforce this guarantee. Look at verse 6 in this same chapter:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
But Jesus says it even better in Luke 6:38:
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
This is just a basic earthly and heavenly principle: you sow a little, you get a little; you sow a lot and you get a lot. But note that Jesus says “give, and it WILL BE given to you … running over …” Although you may not know the form of how God will bless you in return, you will receive the greater blessing; when you give, YOU get the better end of the deal.
If you’ve stuck with me this far, you have to have learned a lot because this material – straight from His Word – unfortunately just isn’t taught from most pulpits. If you have questions, fire away – send them directly to me at mike@BibleFinanceSeminars.com. So, take some time to think about these issues – guidance straight from God’s heart. Next time, we’ll talk about giving to the local church and wrap up this topic.