The past several weeks our lessons have been about giving. Often times when we discuss giving, we automatically think about money. When giving is taught in the church it is often assumed (sadly by the one teaching and the one listening) that it always a reference to the collection plate. Giving is not about an amount or a percentage but should be an attribute - an attitude of a believer. In II Corinthians the Apostle Paul is reminding the church at Corinth of their commitment to give to the relief effort for the church at Jerusalem. The reminder gives Paul the opportunity to teach what giving really is to the ones who say they are followers of Christ. Giving was an important concept from Pauls perspective because giving shows compassion for those in need. It was also a unifying force between the Gentile and Jewish Christians and it showed the fulfillment of the Jewish law that stressed the principal of giving of alms to aid the poor. Why should believers give? Christ is the supreme example in giving. Not only did He give His life for us, but he always met the physical needs of those He came in contact with. When believers get hung up on giving a percentage of their monetary income and assume thats all I have to do, we fall short of the spirit of giving exemplified by our Savior. Jesus taught about giving and the most famous example He gave was the widows mite. Obviously it wasnt the amount or the percentage of income given, but the attitude of giving that was important. As believers we should give cheerfully. Paul illustrates this point by teaching the agricultural, economic and spiritual principal of sowing and reaping. The important thing to remember as believers that we are the sowers and God is the harvester. Our job is to sow the seed cheerfully. Paul affirms that giving is a very personal decision. In II Corinthians 9:6-7 he says, ...every man according as he purposeth in his heart - so let him give and not to do so grudgingly or out of necessity. In other words, theres not much spiritual good if giving is done out of obligation. God rejoices in the spirit of a cheerful giver regardless of the amount given. Believers should give generously because that shows a spirit of contentment and its much easier to give when we recognize that God is the source of all of our blessings. This flies in the face of the attitude of some believers that whats mine is mine and I worked for it so no one else can have it. Giving generously of not only our resources, but also our time and talent demonstrates that we are trusting God to supply all of our needs. When we acknowledge that all we have belongs to God as a result of His blessing, we learn to find fulfillment in planting the seed while trusting Him for the harvest. Not only that but Paul says in II Corinthians 9:10 that learning the joy of sowing the seed results in God giving more seed to sow. This principal of sowing and reaping has been corrupted by the get-rich quick, charlatan television evangelists. It is a biblical principal. The important thing to remember is that Gods blessings are not measured in dollars and cents, neither should our giving be assumed to be all about money. Giving is not a test of our faith, but is a measurement of our faith. When we desire to me more like Christ we find giving to be a way of living instead of a burden of fulfilling a law.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 11:53:34 +0000
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