One of Dr Mike Murdoch's wise sayings goes thus: "Giving is the proof that you have conquered greed". I cannot agree less because one of the identifying markers of a greedy person is their craving for more through any means but no plans for giving.
The opening text makes it clear that the godly love to give. In addition to Christlike character, one of the ways we'll know a godly man or woman is their love for giving. Why? They have conquered greed. Those who hold on to their resources are greedy.
The bible says, "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty" ( Prov 11:24).
No man truly walking with God will have struggles giving to the Lord. All spiritual men and women I know give without making noise about it. It is their lifestyle and personal culture. They support their local church, pastors, missions, missionaries, needy and poor.
Today, there are voices Satan has raised against the holy practice of Christian giving. While some started out as trying to defend against the excesses on the subject, they veered into extremes and lumped everyone together. They started calling all preachers thieves and speak against their well being. This is ungodly. No true child of God will join Satan in his campaign of calumny against his servants.
The Psalmist says, "Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant"( Psalm 35:27 KJV).
Ungodly people who seem to have a form of godliness can spend hours speaking against giving to the Lord through the church, missions and servants of God. They may sound eloquent but what you are hearing is the voice of a stingy man preventing others from doing their christian duty.
I have never seen these critics criticize those who support those buying guns and bombs for terrorists who kill christians and burn churches. They know someone is supporting them because bombs and guns are not cheap. Why do they make noise when someone give lavishly to support a kingdom cause? It can only be demonic.
As a godly believer who love the Lord, your giving should be an expression of your worship and love for the Lord and his kingdom. It should be borne out of a desire to see his kingdom expand throughout the earth and see his kingdom established in the hearts of men. As you grow in the Lord, your giving should not even be about percentage but generosity.
Those who have grown in the things of the spirit do not get into contentions about these things because giving has become their lifestyle. They have conquered greed.
