UNDERSTANDING GIVING
41 NOW JESUS SAT OPPOSITE THE TREASURY AND SAW HOW THE PEOPLE PUT MONEY INTO THE TREASURY. AND MANY WHO WERE RICH PUT IN MUCH.
42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans (a Roman coin).
43 SO HE CALLED HIS DISCIPLES TO HIMSELF AND SAID TO THEM, “ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU THAT THIS POOR WIDOW HAS PUT IN MORE THAN ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN TO THE TREASURY;
44 FOR THEY ALL PUT IN OUT OF THEIR ABUNDANCE, BUT SHE OUT OF HER POVERTY PUT IN ALL THAT SHE HAD, HER WHOLE LIVELIHOOD.”
Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV)
When you give to God, towards His kingdom; be diligent to do it in the proportion of what He has blessed you with.
In our text, Jesus said the poor widow who gave two mites, gave more than all those who had given to the treasury (Mark 12:43,44).
God considers how much you have left after you have given. The widow in question gave everything she had, her whole livelihood (Mark 12:44).
Some people like to brag, boast, about what they give, they want other people to know what they have done. However, such attitude is not consistent with the teaching of Christ Jesus:
1 "TAKE HEED THAT YOU DO NOT DO YOUR CHARITABLE DEEDS BEFORE MEN, TO BE SEEN BY THEM. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. 2 “THEREFORE, WHEN YOU DO A CHARITABLE DEED, DO NOT SOUND A TRUMPET BEFORE YOU AS THE HYPOCRITES DO IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE GLORY FROM MEN. ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. 3 "BUT WHEN YOU DO A CHARITABLE DEED, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING, 4 “THAT YOUR CHARITABLE DEED MAY BE IN SECRET; AND YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN SECRET WILL HIMSELF REWARD YOU OPENLY" (Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV).
Note:
• Whatever you give as offering, that you might be praised by the people, would not attract any reward from God (Matthew 6:1).
• Give because you love God and you want His kingdom to be established and expanded on the earth (Luke 8:1-3).
• Give because you want every glory to be ascribed or given to God. The motive with which you give matters to God than whatever you give to Him or His work—irrespective of the size of what you give, whether big or small.
• Thus, do not give because you want people to praise you (Matthew 23:5).
Some give to church building project or whatever, that their names might be inscribed on the building, or the project they have given their money to support (Matthew 6:1-4).
When you give, let the self be relegated. Let every ego be subdued. Know that God is the source of everything you have and no one can receive anything except is given to him from heaven (John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7).
Remember, God gave all you have to you for a purpose, mainly to build His kingdom on earth; therefore, you are not the owner but a trustee—agent or steward. And a steward should be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
You must be a good trustee of God’s resources. You must use the money as He wants you to do.
Some believers want to give to the people they like; those who sing their praises, who give them accolade, or those who flatter them, but not the people that God wants them to give to (Matthew 23:5).
If your blessing comes from God, you know He is your source, and you want to perpetuate the blessing, then you have to obey Him on how to use the money.
When God blesses you under a ministry or a minister, you are not to hoard it. If you do not use the blessing of God in your hand for His intended purpose, the blessing may not last; you will place a limit on your progress. You truncate the flow of God’s blessings on your life (Luke 12:16-21).
Financial blessing is a responsibility. Thus, If you do not have the ability to manage financial abundance properly, there is no point asking God to bless you with it.
If you will not manage the money given to you by God properly, use it as He wants, He may not bless you with abundance; no matter how you pray or agitate for it. Being the fact that He knows your ability—the number of talents you can manage (Matthew 25:15).
Having said that, when you give, you should do it by faith, with the expectation to receive back from God:
"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 NKJV).
God is a rewarder, not a taker or a user. He will reward you if you give with a good heart or motive—if you give because you love Him and with cheerfulness (2 Corinthians 9:7; Hebrews 11:6).
In giving to God, let your heart be right. If you do give, do it with a good heart that you may receive a reward for whatever you give (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Know that If God asks you to give, He does because He wants to bless you. Whatever you give to Him, He returns in multiple fold (Luke 6:38; Galatians 6:7,9).
6 BUT THIS I SAY: HE WHO SOWS SPARINGLY WILL ALSO REAP SPARINGLY, AND HE WHO SOWS BOUNTIFULLY WILL ALSO REAP BOUNTIFULLY.
7 SO LET EACH ONE GIVE AS HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART, NOT GRUDGINGLY OR OF NECESSITY [compulsion]; FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.”
2 Corinthians 9:6,7 (NKJV)
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!