I want to speak to you tonight about 5 things the Bible teaches about giving. What you are willing to commit reflects the depth of your love.
1. It is more blessed to give than to receive:
This directly the teaching of the Lord and His apostles. There are always greater blessings in giving than receiving. Those who give always increase; I pray that the Lord shall stir each of us to become givers, than being only receivers.
[Acts 20:35 KJV] “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
2. Your giving is proof of your love:
When you read 2 Corinthians 8, you will understand that giving is the proof of your love. You cannot say you love when you don’t give. If you truly love you will give and give even in poverty and affliction.
[2 Corinthians 8:23-24 KJV] “Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. [24] Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.”
3. Giving must always come with receiving:
The Bible teaches us to give because it will come back to us a good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over. I and one person who has come to know that giving always comes with receiving.
[Philippians 4:15 KJV] “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”
4. God loves a cheerful giver:
The Lord wants you to give because you are persuaded to give. God does not want you to give grudgingly as if He needs your offering. God does not need our offerings, we need His blessings; and the offering is the key that unlocks the blessing, and God loves a cheerful giver.
[2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV] “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
5. A liberal soul shall be made fat:
This is a fact and spiritual reality, a liberal soul shall be made fat. You will never lack because you are liberal. The liberal soul is blessed by many and the blessings translate into increase and fatness.
[Proverbs 11:25 KJV] “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”
Without doubt, the gift of a man will make room for him; may the Lord stir up your hearts and faith and cause you to abound in the grace of giving. When you love, you will give your time, money, resources, skills, and intellect for the building of His house and kingdom.
I love you
Pastor Simpe Bediako
