The Divine Laws of Giving
The Divine Laws, Secrets and Mysteries of "Giving"
The Bible says that it is more blessed to "give" than to "receive." Therefore, "giving" must be a greater, more exciting, meaningful, fulfilling, significant and blessed act than "receiving." Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32); The secrets of God are with them that fear him (Psalm 25:14); It is given unto us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11) It is very important to know all the truths about "giving" in order to be blessed beyond measure, to have fulfillment in life and to realize our full potential.
Giving is the greatest act that any one can do. Giving is love in action. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). The Bible says that genuine love motivates us to give. It is possible to give without loving, but not possible to love without giving.
God is the greatest giver in the whole universe. Giving, providing, and supplying out of love is the nature and attribute of God. Giving is a spiritual act. It is not a physical or an intelligent act!
I. WHAT IS GIVING?
· Giving is a Godly act
· Giving is a spiritual act
· Giving is an act of love
· Giving is an act of faith
· Giving is an act of thanksgiving
· Giving is an act of reconciliation
· Giving is an act of restitution
· Giving is an act of goodness
· Giving is an act of obedience
· Giving is an act of remembrance
· Giving is an act of stewardship
· Giving is an act of joy
· Giving is an act of sowing
· Giving is an act of pleasing
· Giving is an act of Honor
· Giving is an act of Worship
II. THE LEVELS OF GIVING
There is no limit to how much we can give. The giving of many people is only a "tokenism." They give so that they will not be bothered again; criticized or condemned for not giving; and that they may not feel guilty. While giving is important how much we give is also equally important. The Bible says that when much is given, much will be required of them (Luke 12:48). The different levels, degrees and ways of giving illustrated in the Bible are listed below:
· Being very stingy or miserly
· Giving a little or giving sparingly
· Giving according to ones ability
· Giving liberally or bountifully
· Giving sacrificially
· Giving willingly
· Giving cheerfully
· Giving the first fruits
· Giving the best
· Giving the last
· Giving all
· Giving Gold
· Giving until the need is met
· Giving when someone asks
· Giving alms
· Giving all the tithes
· Giving a thanksgiving offering
· Giving seed faith offering
· Giving to build the house of God
· Selling and Giving
· Making a vow
· Giving our life
III. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE?
1. For the needs of others to be met
God does not give to the orphan, widow, needy and poor directly from heaven. His plan is that the needs of the less fortunate ones should be supplied by the more fortunate ones. When God supplies us with more than what we have need of, he expects us to give to those in need. We have to be the channels of God's blessings to others. Unless we give to the poor, they will not get anything. God does not drop anything directly from heaven. So also, our needs are met only by some one here on this earth. Luke 6:38 says, "Give and it shall be given back to you a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will men give unto your bosom."
2. For the needs in the Lord’s ministry to be met
It is God 's plan that all the needs of the ministries should be met through the tithes and offerings of the believers. If everyone gives all the tithes and the offerings (Thanksgiving, First Fruits and Seed Faith Offerings) strictly according to God's Laws, the needs of the ministry will be more than adequately met.
3. For the needs of the believers to be met
When the believers do not give their tithes and offerings according to the Biblical Principles, the result will be twofold. First of all the needs of the Lord's Ministry will not be adequately met, and secondly the needs of the believers will not be met.
When believers do not give all of their tithes and their offerings (over and above their tithes) according to the biblical principles, a financial curse will come upon them, which cannot be removed except through the obedience of the Word of God, and that is by giving what they are supposed to give according to the Word of God.
These are the three important reasons why we should give. It is God's plan that all these three kinds of needs should be met through our "giving."
IV. THE TRUE MEASURE OF THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE BELIEVERS
There is a direct relationship between how much one gives, and how much he receives. How much one gives, how he gives and why he gives is a true measure of ones spiritual growth and maturity in the dimensions such as love, faith, goodness, obedience to God's Word, stewardship, thankfulness, etc.
V. SOME CLASSIC EXAMPLES OF GIVING MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
A. The Woman of Bethany
The woman of Bethany poured upon the head and feet of Jesus a very precious ointment which was of great value and which represented all of her life's savings and the best that she had. Jesus Christ was quite pleased with this act of giving which reflected her great love and gratitude for Jesus. She gave her best and all, as an act of pleasing, honor, worship, love and thanksgiving. Jesus was so pleased with this act of giving that he said that wherever the gospel is preached, a tribute will be paid to this woman of Bethany. Have you done or given something for Jesus, which is worth mentioning or remembered to be recorded in the history for the future generations to be challenged and do something great for the Lord.
B. King Solomon
The fact that King Solomon gave one thousand burnt offerings to the Lord, as a sacrifice, is recorded in the Bible. God was so pleased with this act of sacrifice and, giving that he appeared to him in a dream and asked him what he wanted. This significant act of sacrifice and giving drew the attetion of God immediately, and he was so pleased that he offered to give him anything he wanted, and he actually gave him much more than what he asked for.
C. Abraham
Another great act of sacrificial giving that is recorded in the Bible is Abraham's implicit obedience and readiness to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice to God.
D. Abel
The fact that Abel gave an excellent sacrifice to God in obedience to and as per instruction is noteworthy.
E. Hannah
The vow she made to dedicate back to God what she was asking for was the secret of getting her prayer answered.
F. Jesus Christ
Jesus so loved every one of us so much that he gave his own life as a sacrifice to save the whole world from sin and its wages, which is death.
G. God
John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
H. Jacob
Jacob was able to reconcile with his brother whom he deceived by stealing his birthrights, by giving him some gifts.
I. The Widow who gave Two Mites
Even though she gave very little, because she gave all that she had, Jesus was very pleased, and complimented her by saying that she gave more than everyone else. It is not how much we give that is important, but what percentage of what we have that we give, which is more important.
J. The Widow of Zarephath
What she gave to the man of God is recorded in the Bible because she gave her last meal, which is highly commendable.
K. Zacchaeus
The fact that he gave half of what he had to the poor as an act of retribution is noteworthy. Further his offer to give four-fold to every one from whom he took anything wrongfully as a restitution and as damages is also quite significant. One cannot simply say "sorry" to those from whom they gained anything unlawfully. Justice demands that one has to make a fair restitution for it.
L. Cornelius
The fact that he had compassion for the poor and the needy is not only evident from the fact that the angels had kept a record of such acts of giving alms to poor and brought it to the attention of God when he prayed to God for some special favor, but the fact that giving is also an act of remembrance or a memorial act is worth making a note of.
M. The Rich Young Ruler
The story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus one day and bragged asking what else he needed to do beyond obeying and fulfilling all the commandments of God, while it is sad on one hand, is significant on the other hand, because he was only legalistic in doing all the rituals but neither did he have the love and compassion for the poor nor did he have the faith in God for all of his needs to be met.
VI. CONCLUSION
1. Neither anyone loses by giving nor anyone gains by not giving
The Bible says that neither any one will become poor by giving nor any one become rich by not giving.
2. God’s economic system works contrary to the economic system of the world
The economic systems of the world use false and deceptive means false and deceptive means to entice and attract people to gain a lot or to get rich quick. The emphasis and the theme used in the commercial world today is how one can give a little and gain a lot; buy one and get one free; buy one at the regular price and get the second one for 50% of the regular price or just for 1 cent; buy a lottery ticket for $1.00 and win $1,000.000.00; save a lot of money by using some coupons etc. in other words the emphasis seems to be to give a little and get a lot.
3. The Biblical principles of giving
But the Bible says that if we sow sparingly we will also reap sparingly, and if we sow bountifully, we will also reap bountifully. The Bible is very explicit on the principle of prosperity which is that only by sowing we can reap; only by giving we can receive; only by throwing away we can get it back; only by losing we can gain; and only by emptying we can be filled.
Mark 10:29-30 says that if any one forsakes or loses anything for the sake of the gospel or the kingdom of God, he will receive a hundred fold blessing now and later!
Luke 6:38 says "Give, and it shall be given back unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall give into your bossom. For with the same measure ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
II Corinthians 9:6 says "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
Malachi 3:10 says "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, …… And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."