How Giving can be a Blessing

By Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam

 

The principle of sowing and reaping is an immutable law. It is not a man made law but God himself established it. In Galatians 6:7, we read, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” The word “giving” and “sowing” is synonymous. This can be seen in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Sowing and giving is mentioned synonymously by Paul in his teaching. Paul says when we give, we should not give reluctantly and out of compulsion but of willing and glad heart. He also says when you sow, do not sow sparingly because you will reap sparingly. When you sow bountifully, you will also reap bountifully. Therefore, when a farmer puts a seed into the ground, he knows he is committing himself to a law which he has no control. He simply becomes a partner with God who is the Lawgiver and Maker. The Bible says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1). “Casting” is sowing. Farmers will sow seeds on the riverbanks where it is most fertile and expect to reap a harvest. Similarly, God is saying when you give, you are like the farmer who has sown his seed, and when you sow you will reap a harvest.

 

There are four levels of giving: Tithing, Offering, Sacrificial Offering and faith Promise.

 

The first level of giving is tithing.

When you tithe you recognise God as the Owner. Tithe is a tenth of what you have. The Bible says, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord’ (Leviticus 27:30). “And concerning the tithe of the herd of the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:32). Tithe symbolises that all I own belongs to God and I am His steward. I recognise my stewardship when I tithe. Tithing is more than just the Mosaic Law. It is a moral law of God. David recognise God as the Owner and he said in 1 Chronicles 29:12-17, “both riches and honour come form You, and You reign over all… but who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer (give) so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of your own we have given You…” A tithe then, is a sacred portion that God says is His. To refuse to tithe is to rob God. The Bible says, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8). If you are His child, you will tithe.

 

The second level of giving is an offering to God.

We give an offering out of our own freewill. It is our privilege to do so because He has blessed us with many blessings. In the olden days, offerings were given in kind. For example, eggs, chicken, vegetables, etc. today, we give financially. We give a freewill offering or a love offering.

 

The third level of giving is sacrificial giving

You may want to buy yourself that certain new blouse or new tie or whatever but instead you use that money for the Lord’s work. That is sacrificial giving. Have you learnt to give sacrificially? He will bless you when you give in obedience to Him.

 

The fourth level of giving is Faith Promise.

What is a Faith Promise? It is trusting and believing God will enable you to give. A Faith Promise is a financial commitment made by faith that God will open a way for you, so that you will have enough to give. When we give with the right motive and by faith, God will not fail. The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). We thank the Lord for the Faith Promise Programme in Calvary Church. It is a Missions Faith Promise giving. Many have been blessed. For example, there was a man who shared a testimony of how God has been good to him in the area of Faith Promise giving. He has been challenge to pledge what he does not seem to have and God has been faithfully enabling him to meet his pledge. He was able to earn more in allowance in the first half of the year and during the second half of the year, his investments had increase and he also received a promotion at work.

 

In conclusion, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24). In this verse, Jesus reinforces the law of sowing and reaping. He says that if he refuses to sow you will not have more of what you have, but if you sow, it will reproduce itself many times.

 

Similarly, He says, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). Giving brings blessing to you. Money is not the only thing you can give to God you can give your talents, your time but most of all yourself to God. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, “Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” So, give in order to receive your blessings, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

(All Bible quotations above are from the New King James Version).

 

CALVARY NEWS

Issue 47, September – October 1997