As children of God, you have to understand that wisdom and understanding of the Kingdom of God is the key to a successful Christian life. You have to understand the principles of the Kingdom of God and how you must function in the Kingdom of God. The bible says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7). You have to understand every word you are being preached and this is very important for you to bear fruit. From the parable of sower, we understand that Jesus said that those who received the Word and understood it are the ones who bear more fruit. So as children of God, seek always to understand the kingdom you have come to and how it operates. I would like to share with you on a very important question that has confused Christians on whether we “give to receive” or “receive to give.” The bible says, “10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” (2 Corinthians 9: 10 -11). From this, the bible says it is God who provides seed to the sower and He is also the one who multiplies it to increase the fruits of our righteousness. God is in the business of giving people and people must have a capacity to receive. (James 1:17) says “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” The bible says also, (1 Timothy 6:7) “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” From the above scriptures, we understand that God is the one who gives us all good things and including our daily bread and all benefits. Before our Lord Jesus sends the disciples to preach in (Matthew 10:8), He said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” So as we came into the world with nothing, it means that we then receive from God all we need and then we give. You have also to understand what we receive from God. In (Deuteronomy 8:18), the bible says “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” The power to become wealthy comes from God. Also you have to understand that the bible says we have been created unto good words which God has prepared for us that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10) and it is God who provides us with everything. The bible says we have to labour with our own hands so that we may have something to give to the poor or the needy (Ephesians 4:28). When we labour being compelled by the love to help the need or the passion to do good works, God will bless your business and you will prosper and have seed to sow. So after God has blessed us, we then give out of love and when we give, more will be given back. You have to understand that the motive in giving must be love and not anything else. Without love, you gain nothing out of your giving and you give to people through various means. These includes using the gift that God has given you, using the money that you have, speaking comforting words to your brother, preaching the gospel...etc. All these come from the Lord. So we receive so that we may give and the love of God in us must move us to do so. As the beloved of God, all our efforts in life must all be labour of love. We have been called to do good works. We receive from God so that we may give. Lets us minister to each other using all we have. (Hebrews 13:16) says, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Our motive in giving or ministering to the saints must not be to gain but only love for the brethren. Jesus said that people must know that you are my disciples because you love one another (John 13:35). So we give because of love for each other and because sowing and reaping is a principle of God, more will come when you give. Jesus said when you give, more will be given back. So we don’t give to receive but we receive to give and love must move us to give. The reason why we receive more when we give is because of the principle of sowing and reaping and it works. The bible says in (Genesis 8:22) that “As long as the earth endures, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease" and because this is a principle, it will work. The fact that it is written that when we give, more will be given should not be our motive, but the love for each other must move us. Without love, we gain nothing out of all our efforts. (For further reading...meditate on (1 Corinthians 13). May the word of our Lord Jesus richly dwell in you...and may you continue to seek the wisdom that comes from above and may love be the reason for everything you do.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 12:24:05 +0000
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