#1Understanding GIVING
This is #1 of a 5 part series
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
Let us ponder GIVING!
Many TV ministries and popular ministers need to raise money for their budgets and the vision of GIVING is often distorted.
TEXT:
2 Cor. 9:7 Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so LET HIM GIVE, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
Gen. 4:7. IF THOU DOEST (gives) WELL SHALT THOU BE NOT ACCEPTED? And if thou does not well, sin lies at the door?
Gen. 4:4 And Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock --- And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering...
James1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOWS in their affliction, and to KEEP SELF UNSPOTTED from the world.
Gen. 4:3, And in the process of time it came to pass, that CAIN BROUGHT OF THE FRUIT of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
We need to develop an understanding of giving.
Giving takes two forms -- Giving to God and Giving to man.
The sad story about giving is that many think giving is just a story about money.
Yes, giving is about money, but it is about time, hugs, study, preparation, growth, development, forgiveness, and paying attention.
To understand giving we must study several areas.
1. What is real Godly religion?
Many give religion down the road and say it is bad.
This is not what the Bible says.
James1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOWS in their affliction, and to KEEP SELF UNSPOTTED from the world.
We have many ministries today that have super programs that are self-ministry and self-feeding programs.
Maybe, there is nothing wrong with this, but there has to be more.
If this Biblical definition be true, we have to reach out of the walls of the sanctuary to GIVE.
I can raise money easier than I can get people to visit the rest home and the widows.
We need to understand what is important to God.
What breaks our hearts? What breaks God’s heart?
Are they the same?
2. We have many TITULAR OFFICES in the church.
TITULAR MEANS existing in title only.
We have the title and the honors of the office without the duties, functions or responsibilities.
We have Sunday School Superintendents and teachers that never visit their class members, never study in depth, are unfaithful to attend other services, or never fast over the office in which they serve.
We have Royal Ranger, Missionette leaders, youth leaders, musicians, singers that OFFER GOD SLIP SHOD MINISTRY.
I call this GIVING THE LEFT OVERS, NOT THE FIRST FRUITS.
Slip shod means loose, shabby, careless, slovenly, lazy service ---
then we ponder where is the blessings?
What is the Biblical purpose of deacons?
To take the FULL load of other leaders often physically drains the pastor, to free their pastor to study and pray more?
Do you see this?
Real effective ministry cost many tears, prayers, study, and works.
When I address this titular attitude in our giving, the first cry is ---
I WILL JUST QUIT?
Sure, that is a demonic answer seeking the easy road.
Quitting is not the answer, correcting the problem in giving is the only way.
3. One of the first lessons on giving comes from Cain and Abel.
Gen. 4:3, And in the process of time it came to pass, that CAIN BROUGHT OF THE FRUIT of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
I have heard this debated, that God rejected Cain’s offering because there was no blood.
This is not logical, giving is based on ability.
Cain was a gardener, you can’t give what you don’t have.
Beside this, Leviticus 2, clearly shows God accepted the oblation offering of the first fruits, flour, oil, etc.
The real offering principle Cain missed was "OF THE FRUIT,"
Cain gave seconds, leftovers, not HIS BEST, not first fruits..
Because of not understanding giving, many sad baser (weak) areas will develop in Cain’s heart.
Gen.4:6 The Lord ask Cain: Why are you mad? Why is your countenance fallen?
The answer returns to the root of the problem ---
NO UNDERSTANDING OF GIVING.
Read vs. Gen. 4:7. IF THOU DOEST (gives) WELL SHALT THOU BE NOT ACCEPTED? And if thou does not well, sin lies at the door?
The beauty of GIVING is expressed by ABEL!
Gen. 4:4 And Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock ---
And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering...
Abel is remembered in the Heroes of the Faith chapter, Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his giving: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Understanding GIVING in the proper light can change your countenance?
Poor Cain never learned, nor repented.
Cain made poor choices and reaped poor consequences.
Can baser (weak) areas caused us sink deeper in the quicksand
of sin and depression?
4. IT IS NOT THE SIZE OF THE OFFERING BUT THE SIZE OF THE HEART THAT IMPRESSES GOD!
Jesus knew: where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Mat. 6:21; Luke 12:34)
For what you love, you will find time for!
Jesus was sitting near the offering; watching the giving of those in attendance.
How many would get mad today, if the preacher follow the offering plates seeing who gave what?
Again there were some rich men that had little understanding of
giving --- they gave of their abundance.
There was a widow that learned how to turn not enough into enough. For the widow cast in more than they all.
(Luke 21:1--4)
The difference in giving was the spirit and attitude.
The difference was sacrifice.
If we understand giving, we know good giving cost.
5.GOD KNOWS THE MOTIVE IN GIVING, WE SEE THE OFFERING, GOD SEES THE GIVER!
Mat. 6:1-4, Understanding good giving one realizes "DON’T SHOWOFF!"
All that is given to be seen of men, have their reward.
We must not let the left hand know what the right hand is giving.
Secret giving will be rewarded openly.
Blowing the "trumpet giving" lacks understanding,
for the debt is paid in full -- they have their reward,
the applause of man.
Wrongful attitudes in giving negate the benefits.
Real giving loves and the gift is not because of obligation to the recipient or to gain power over them.
A drum can make much noise, but they are hollow inside.
Giving to get back is a poor motive.
Seed faith must be more than seeking a gain and bribery!
We must understand: MOTIVE.
We are more than actors playing roles.
Are we giving and praying for audiences?
Or do we seek audience with God?
6. GODLY GIVING IS ALWAYS ACCORDING TO ONE’S ABILITY.
We must understand, we don’t all stand on equal soils.
Deu. 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord which God has given him.
7. Godly understanding sees the value of the giver more than the value of the gift.
A dandelion in the hand of a child can express as much love as a diamond.
Effort and thought need to be considered.
I have never looked at the back of a card to determine the value of the card..
I love the underlined or hand written words the best.
8. MANY LOVE GIFTS REAL VALUE WILL NEVER BE KNOWN TO THE GIVER.
Mary of Bethany never realized when she gave her love gift, the alabaster box, what she was doing.
When her love gift was broken at Jesus’ feet, she was anointing the Son of God for his burial.
She neever knew.
The widow that dropped in her mites never knew her gift would be recognized 2000 years later.
When Andrew went and told Peter about Jesus, Andrew never realized how Peter would change and develop in the Lord.
As we understand giving, we must see our gifts may still be working when we are dead and gone.
Many times this minister has run out of funds, and a handshake or a gift in the mail enabled me to go another mile? this email may go farther than I realize?
9. INVEST YOUR LOVE GIFT WISELY.
I have seen several individuals give to some million dollar ministries, and the little local pastor struggle to pay his bills.
Water slides come and go, but God’s man should never be muzzled.
Many local churches never see that corporate giving, as a church, to the care for God’s man is as important to receive God’s blessings, as giving is for an individual to receive blessings.
10. GOD LOVES CHEERFUL GIVERS THAT HAVE A PLAN! There is a lack of understanding concerning giving, many give when there arises a need.
The beauty of giving blooms before the need arises.
2 Cor. 9:7 Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so LET HIM GIVE, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
As the bloom goes before the fruit, good giving gives before the need.
Many times giving is not willing, but I HAVE TO --- this is so sad.
2 Cor. 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind ...
We need PLANNED GIVING!
Ever hear, no one plans to fail, they fail to plan?
You can make plans on giving after your death, your estate owes something to God?
Do you have a family giving plan?
Planned giving knows that giving is an investment in others and in the church.
11. GIVING IS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD!
There is a sad lesson in Mat.19:22, a young man had heard a message on giving from the lips of Jesus.
He bowed his head and walked away in sorrow, because he loved the material things in life.
We can gain much and lose it all, we can lose it all and gain much.
Misplaced or no priorities cause a sick society to suppose gain is godliness, (1 Tim. 6:5), and we seek material blessings as a showcase for God’s blessings.
This young man walking away from the message on giving will find many sad days ahead, his priorities were misplaced.
12. OCCASIONALLY GOD CALLS ONE TO GIVE OUT OF THEIR NEED.
What a powerful lesson in 1 Kings 17: 13, 15?
There is a widow in Zarephath, that is called beyond the call of duty.
Elijah, in great boldness, says fix me something to eat first, then fix you and your son second.
I ponder, what might have happened, if the widow cooked her son and self a meal first? then the preacher?
See, giving out of the need requires faith!
This widow never knew the outcome, she trusted the message on giving. Is there side blessing of giving?
Sure, 1 Kings 17:17-24, when the widows son was ill and dying, the preacher carried him into the attic, and God remember the giving of the widow, and he lived --- a miracle birthed in giving! The gift before the miracle.
13. UNDERSTAND, GIVING CAN NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF OBEDIENCE!
You can never buy God or His Blessings!
God is above bribery!
1 Sam. 15:22, Does the Lord have great delight in offerings and sacrifices, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD IT IS BETTER TO OBEY THAN SACRIFICE...
We must understand, you can give without love, but you can not love without giving.
We need to give and to obey.
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
Kyfingers@aol.com
You can give me a gift, and pass this to others.
