Giving should not just be tithing, offering, sowing seeds etc. That is so O’Level!
The Advanced level according to Christ is based on love – Love God with all your heart, might and strength and your neighbour as yourself. Love gives! God so loved the world, He gave what was most precious to Him, His only begotten Son [John 3:16].
God wants 100% of us. He wants to be able to lead us to do anything he wants with our 100%, not just 10%.
These days we sit on tithing and sowing seeds and make it seem as if that is what giving is all about. That is so not true. The silence of the New Testament on Tithing is deafening. In the Acts of the Apostles, we see the Apostles living in harmony and blessing one another, we see people giving selling properties and giving all into a common purse so that nobody will go hungry or struggle needlessly. Yet tithing was not emphasised.
In all of Paul letters we see him asking for offerings every now and then but he was always quick to make sure the brethren understand it was a Christian responsibility to be done cheerfully not something people can go to hell over [in case you don’t know some pastors actually have the audacity to preach that people who don’t tithe won’t go to heaven, Haba what is the purpose of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice? We can’t buy our salvation, please don’t waste the Blood Of Jesus!].
Should Christians give to Pastors? Why Not? Shouldn’t we take care physically of those who taken care of us spiritually? [Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 9:11-12]
But should Pastors threaten people to give? Never! Oh I love Paul sacrificing even his rights to demand to be blessed materially by the Corinthians. If most MOGs would emulate that, the kingdom of God’s advancement would be faster and deeper
1 Corinthians 9: 12 NLT “If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.”
If you decide to give 10% monthly, that is good. The problem starts when you start to judge others for not doing what you do.
Though to be fair, some who kick against tithing etc are just selfish and greedy people who are looking for an excuse to spend all their money on their lusts. But that is still not a good enough reason to impose on others.
People need to be taught about Christian responsibility, taking care of people in the faith and people in the world including the poor, orphans and widows.
We shouldn’t hide under “tithing is old testament” and not give as God as commanded but we should also not put men under bondage because of the prevailing Greed For Gain in churches these days.
We should give to advance the cause of the Gospel.
We should give to people who bless us Spiritually.
We should give to help others fulfil their dreams.
We should give to support causes we believe in.
But it is more than putting a calculator on our earnings! It is about submitting all we have to God’s leading.
Giving should be done cheerfully not forcefully.
I love the way the New Living Translation renders 2 Corinthians 9:7-10
“7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”[d]
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
Luke 6: 38 explains …
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Yes when we give we sow seeds into other people’s lives but we should not make our personal harvest the target but the harvest God gets in their lives.
When you give, God blesses you but the blessing should never be the reason for giving. You should give to be a blessing not to get a blessing. That is true matured Christian giving not the childish version of give to get we have making waves round town these days.
May God help us follow Him fully. We All Need His Grace!
Stay Focused On Christ,
Gbenga Samson
