“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.” (Luke 6:38)
In
God’s kingdom everything works according to set principles that God has put in
place. These principles help us to understand Him better. Originating from God,
they work perfectly well for all those who apply them in their daily lives.
God’s principles are not modelled on those that govern the world. The world
operates on its own principles---most of them contrary to what governs God’s
kingdom. One such principle that comes to mind is this; God says: ‘Believing is
seeing,’ the world says: ‘Seeing is believing.’ Trustworthiness constitutes a
major problem in the world, particularly in business. You do not have to be
just convincing, you would also have to show evidence or tangible proof to win
your partner’s confidence.
Another
of God’s principles touches on giving and getting. In the world, it is
considered a loss when you give, you do not gain. As a result many cling to
their wealth and go through a world of woes amassing it, more so to keep and
secure it. This world is going to pass away and there is no point trying to
amass that many material things that will perish anyway with time. When we
give, we automatically receive, because God blesses it. We were blessed to be a
blessing and one way to do so is to give. (Genesis 12:2)
God
has directed that a tenth of our income in cash or kind be given to Him as a
tithe offering. Jacob at Bethel on his way to Haran gave an undertaking that if
God would bless him, he would give a tenth back. “... and this stone that I
have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will
give you a tenth.” (Genesis 28:22) The laws prescribed “A tithe of everything
from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to
the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:30)
He
fills our baskets
What
kind of a giver are you? Do you give generously without counting the cost or do
you give reluctantly? God loves a cheerful giver, someone who gives from the
heart; someone who does not grumble or tight-fisted either. God loves someone
who gives discreetly without publicity also. He loves someone who gives out of
the sheer love of giving, not even with expectation. “Remember this: Whoever
sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also
reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2
Corinthians 9:6-7)
God
accuses us of robbing Him. “But you ask how do we rob you? In tithes and
offering......Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food
in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not
throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will
not have room enough for it. I will prevent pest from devouring your crops, and
the vines in your field will not cast their fruit.” (Malachi 3:8-11)
The
Bible recounts that once father Abraham received three visitors as he was
‘sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.’ He quickly
received them and extended them hospitality by offering them food and drink. He
and Sarah really gave them a treat. As
they were about to leave, they asked for Sarah his wife and the Lord said to
father Abraham. “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and
Sarah your wife will have a son.” (Genesis 18:10) Our giving can provoke
blessings we least expect. Father Abraham and Sarah were childless, but God
blessed them there and then because of their giving. The Lord met them at their
point of need.
It
was after king Solomon offered in one day, a thousand burnt offerings at God’s
altar that God appeared to him that same night and said to him: “Ask for
whatever you want me to give you.” (2 Chronicles 1:7) He asked for wisdom to
govern the great people of God. God gave him much more than he asked for.
“Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or
honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a
long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have
made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.” (2 Chronicles
1:11-12) God blessed king Solomon like He has done nobody else.
The
widow’s mite
Jesus
was in the temple when a widow emptied her purse of all she had by making an
offering to God. He remarked to His disciples; “I tell you the truth, this poor
widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts
out of their wealth but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
(Luke 21:3-4) Sacrificial giving!
Our
giving is not measured necessarily by how much we give but by how we give. When
we give to God freely, He blesses us and replenishes us. Like a seed, He waters
and multiplies the gift. Indeed, He prospers it. We become poorer in God’s eyes
when we hold tight to our wealth; because that was not what God intended when
He blessed us. Give to get, God’s principles never fail: the more you give the
more you get.
The
bottom line is that God is not cheap; the manner in which you give to Him that
is the way He would give back to you. This was confirmed by our Lord Jesus in
the opening scripture. Do not expect much for less, it is not like gambling. He
will bless both the obedient person and the one who gives from the heart beyond
their expectations.
Amen!
