SCRIPTURAL GIVING PT.3

GIVE GENEROUSLY

Pastor E.A. Adeboye told the story of a man in one Kenneth E.Hagin's conference who promised to give the total offerings everyone gave towards a project. The total everyone gave was $3.5million. This wealthy man gave $3.5 million singly.

When asked about the secret of his wealth, he said he reversed the order of tithing. He gave God 90% while he took 10%. He started his business with $500 and in five years, the business grew to worth $5 million. Now, that's a man who understand the principle of generous giving. No one forced it on him, he decided to give that way. I know a man who gives 70% and lives on 30%. This he's been doing for years. That's generous giving.

Often, we read the bible but do not pay attention to details. Reading through the new testament starting from the early church, I noticed that the principles behind giving was the same and it was consistent.

Generous giving is what the bible teaches in the new testament. In the early church, it was not recorded that the Apostles forced or mandated the people to give a certain amount or percentage. The brethren gave generously to the point of selling their possessions and giving all to the church.

For instance, in Acts of Apostles, this is what they told us about how the early church gave: "There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need"(Acts of the Apostles 4:34‭-‬35 NLT).

If the Apostles had insisted on a fixed amount to be given, that church would always be running out of supplies because they'll be limiting those who had the capacity to give more. Thank God they didn't. In that church, money wasn't an issue neither were there arguments on percentage to give.

As stewards of resources, they knew all they had belonged to God and were willing to give all. Truly, they gave all. I wish the Lord can restore this spirit of giving back to the contemporary church. A new testament believer should not be limited to a certain amount or percentage.

Read this Pauline admonition: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously"( 2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV). Long time ago, I decided to be generous with my giving and not be limited to a percentage. There were times I gave all and I did joyfully. Your giving should be generous and not limited to a fixed amount. That's the new testament pattern.

God expect us to be generous with our giving but should be based on our capacity. If you can give N10,000 conveniently and you're giving N1,000, that's not generous giving. You're undergiving. This is not heaven's standard for our giving as new testament believers.

Some can do more but they're doing less because they've put a peg on what should leave their purses. Sometimes, the Spirit of God tells us what to give and the exact amount in some cases but because most of us are not generous givers, we shut His voice out and do as we wish. That's not God's will for us.