THE CHRISTIAN GIVER - PART 7

 THE CHRISTIAN GIVER - PART 7

The Christian believer must understand what it means to give as the scriptures portray. He must not only understand the rudiments of Giving but also how to give acceptably. Since the beginning of this article, we have seen what a Christian Giving looks like from God's word, the benefits that we enjoy when we give and the enemies to our giving. We have understood that our giving is able to yield results only when it is done in line with what is right before God. A farmer is entitled to reaping the seeds sown if they are right seeds (viable), if they are sown on the right field and nurtured the right way and manner; and lastly, if they are sown at the right time. All these we have been able to see together in our previous articles.

Today, we will wrap up on the enemies to our Giving. Amongst all, we have; sin, doubt and unbelief, murmuring and complaining, stinginess, etc.

ENEMIES TO OUR GIVING

9. Impatience:

Hebrews 10:36; "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise".

We understand from scriptures that Giving is the will of God for us who are His (Luke 6:38). But here, the scripture is telling us that having known the will of God or even done the will of God, we must also still be patient enough to obtain the promise. What is the promise? Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom". 

Malachi 3:10 "...and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you our a blessing...Vs 11 "And u will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground...". The Bible admonishes us to avoid being impatient, then can we receive our blessings.

Having looked at the above, what then are the attributes of a Giving that yields results.

ATTRIBUTES OF GIVING THAT YIELDS RESULTS

1. IT MUST COME FROM THE HEART:

 Nothing that is done outside the heart is ever true or genuine. God wants true worshippers, so He searcheth out the hearts and the reins (Psalms 7:9). Proverbs 23:7 - "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he". Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it".

The heart is very pivotal to the life of a man and hence anything that must come out from this place must therefore be worthy. Our Giving to God must come from a heart that is right towards God. 2Corinthians 9:8 "Every man as he purposeth in his heart". We know that God does not deal with man superficially, He looks beyond what is seen by the natural man and He looks into the inward parts of man (Proverbs 20:27). 

We see the church in Macedonia (2Corinthians 8), such a form of giving; that they gave even in deep poverty, can only come from a heart that is one with God. When it comes from the heart, that is when the giving can be genuine. The Giving that must result into blessings must be done genuinely. It must come from a place of genuine intentions first towards God and secondly, towards the cause for which we are given to. God does not bless hypocrites. He has no business with hypocrites. As far as He is concerned, they have received their rewards here on Earth. 

In this same manner, our giving must also come from a heart that is pure and righteous. A righteous God will always prefer righteousness and hate iniquity. Therefore, He will only accept the righteous of gifts from a righteous heart (Psalms 11:7; Psalms 33:5).

Giving must come from a selfless heart: You are not giving because of the blessings that come with it but you are giving because it is the will of God. Luke 17:33 "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it". In the same vein, the ultimate should not be to please ourselves with our Giving or the brethren but all should be unto God. 2 Corinthians 8:5; "...but first they gave their own selves unto the Lord, and unto us by the will of God". At the centre of the Giving of the Macedonia church was God himself. Anything that God is made the ultimate in will always yield pleasant results.

TO BE CONTINUED...

THE IMPACT TEAM

Building men and women of Excellence...