I am really trying to hit my fundraising goal before the end of the year. I want to talk to you about what the Bible says about giving and how that benefits you as the giver!! I know most people don’t like to talk about money and that’s ok. I just want you to see what the word says.
It says in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians 9:6-7 NKJV
What do we reap when we give? We reap blessings that are both material and spiritual.
Materially, we can trust that God will provide for the giving heart. The promise of Phillipians 4:19 “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” is made in the context of the generous hearts of the Philippians 4:15-18 If we give to God, He will give to us materially.
Spiritually, we can trust that God will reward the giving heart both now and in eternity. Jesus spoke to this in Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”Jesus obviously did not mean that we would receive a hundred houses if we gave up our house for Him any more than He meant we would receive a hundred wives if we gave one up for Him! But He did mean that we are never the losers when we give to God. The Lord can never be in debt to any man, and we should never be afraid of giving God “too much.” Spiritually or materially, you can’t out-give God.
“As he purposes in his own heart”: Giving should be motivated by the purposes of our own heart. It should never be coerced or manipulated. We should give because we want to give and because God has put it in our own heart to give.
This can also be said in the sense that our giving reveals the purposes in [our] own heart. If we say we love the Lord more than surfing, but spend all our money on surfboards and do not give as we should to the Lord’s work, then the way we spend our money shows the purposes of our own heart more accurately than our words do. Jesus said it simply: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:22)
So what am I trying to say through all of this is just pray and ask the Lord. See what He puts in your heart to give! You are not giving this money for me to spend on what I want, you are giving for the mission the Father has called me to. The money covers local and international travel, lodging, training, food, leadership, discipleship, insurance and more. I know the Lord will provide this money. He will work through your obedience! I want to thank you for reading this blog, feel free to share it! I am praying for each one of you!
