A MATTER OF GENEROSITY 2
5 THEREFORE I THOUGHT IT NECESSARY TO EXHORT THE BRETHREN TO GO TO YOU AHEAD OF TIME, AND PREPARE YOUR GENEROUS GIFT BEFOREHAND, WHICH YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY PROMISED, THAT IT MAY BE READY AS A MATTER OF GENEROSITY AND NOT AS A GRUDGING OBLIGATION.
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; for God loves a cheerful giver."
2 Corinthians 9:5-7 (NKJV)
The point number seven here is a continuation of the points on why some people could not receive any return on their Giving, we started sharing it in the first part of this teaching, and It continues here.
VII. Lacking in faith
Faithlessness; unbelief or doubt, will kill your seed, and makes it unproductive.
When you give, you should understand the process of germination:
a. You water your seed with confession of faith, prayer and patience.
b. Impatience could make you lose your harvest—the result of your seed.
c. Impatience would also make you murmur in the time of waiting or germination process and look for another shortcut.
When you give, you may not experience immediate harvest or returns, especially in sacrificial Giving.
When God specifically instructed you to be Giving to a project, and it has to be for a number of months, years, or whilst the project lasts. It means God wanted to use such a Giving for a particular blessing in your life.
God will not forget your sacrifices! Such a Giving is usually used to open a major door in one's life; career, business, or ministry.
Major areas of Giving
(i) Tithing
• When you pay your tithes, you lay the foundation to a financial abundance and success.
• Believers are to tithe because they love God.
• You also tithe because it is the right thing to do. It is in line with the Word of God (Malachi 3:10; Luke 11:42).
(ii) Offerings
In giving offerings, you give generously and bountifully, as you have purposed in your heart. It is unlike tithe that has a fixed or specified amount to be given, that is, ten percent of your income (2 Corinthians 9:7).
• You give to the projects commanded by God (Exodus 35:20-24).
• You give to the servants of God—the ministers (1 Corinthians 9:13,14; Galatians 6:6,7; Philippians 4:15-19).
• You give to the poor or needy in the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
• You also give to the Mission work. Part of your income should be earmarked for the expansion of the Kingdom of God on the earth (Luke 8:1-3). The reason being that, He primarily blessed what you are doing that you may bless or finance His work (2 Corinthians 9:8-10).
If you followed God's way of Giving, you cannot but receive a return on whatever you give. God is faithful, He would not take from you without blessing you back in return (1 Kings 3:4,5; Matthew 10:41; Mark 9:41).
Cultivate the habit of sowing a seed towards whatever you desire to receive from God. Sow Seed to get what you need, to get your needs met (1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Kings 3:4,5).
Some lately have faulted this principle. They argue that when one is asked to give that God might give to one, that such amounted to bribing God in order to receive from Him and no one can bribe or induce God to bless him.
Now, those who said that do not have the understanding of the Bible. It is a principle or a law. There are principles that God put in place to govern the world and His Kingdom on earth.
In agricultural law or principle, no amount of faith or prayer would cause you to harvest, if you have not planted anything in the soil (Genesis 8:22; Galatians 6:7).
Likewise in spiritual principles, if you wanted to receive, you have to give. Even between a father to son, Isaac told Esau to get a venison for him in order to pronounce a special blessing on him ) Genesis 27:1-4). Now, what is the correlation or significant of the food that Isaac instructed Esau to bring with the blessing he wanted to pronounce on him? Can we say, Isaac was asking his son, Esau, to bribe him before he could pray or pronounce a blessing on him.
EVEN when a wrong person, Jacob, brought the food, he said he had eaten his food he shall be blessed (Genesis 27:33). Esau wept and asked, is it only one blessing you have my father, bless me also (Genesis 27:34).
The point is, Isaac has eaten Jacob's food, he would surely be blessed (Genesis 27:33).
If you do not radiate anything, you cannot attract anything. Your level of radiation determines the attraction you experience!
I want to enjoin you to try the faithfulness of God today, you will surely have a testimony to share (Haggai 2:18,19; Malachi 3:10).
You will not fail in Jesus' name.
• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' mighty name.
• Whatever is not planted in your body that is contrary to your health is commanded to wither now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!