When we let go of our money through giving, we are saying to God, we are ready for more. Fear of not having enough leaves us and expectation for more is build within you. Giving money is a great way of showing our love to God and seeing how He uses us to bless others. As we give, our attitude is transformed. Rather than asking, “How much of my money should I give to God?” we need to ask ourselves; “How much of God’s money should I keep for myself”?
If you read the Bible with an open and honest heart, you will find out that it teaches us to give frequently and generously. Jesus is very interested in what we do with our money. In fact, He spoke about money more frequently than any other subject except the Kingdom of God.
In Matthew 19:16, Jesus asks the rich young ruler, “What must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus answered him and said, “Go sell what you possess and give to the poor and you will have treasure; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21), the man goes away heavy-hearted because he can’t bear to give up his wealth. Did he ever truly enjoy his privileged lifestyle again or did he always wonder, “What if…?”
My Testimony
I grew up in remote village in Africa, As we were growing up, I saw my mom and dad struggle as they worked hard to keep the needs of our household supplied. My mom was always a giver. He would give foodstuffs to those in our community that needed. I gradually noticed that the blessings started to come back to us and eventually, we were well supplied. Up to today, I actually do not know who paid for my college. My coming to America was a miracle by itself. I have learnt that if you extend yourself to be a blessing to others, God will make sure that you are well taken care of. I remember Him (God) speaking to me a few years back and saying, “Son, you cannot out give me”.
The Bible says in Matthew 19:24, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”.
The good news is money can be used to enhance our relationship with God and to bless humankind. Here’s the secret benefit of giving: It teaches us to find our security in our Father God and to rely on Him for all our needs. Furthermore, a giving spirit makes life with God an adventure – how will He use you today?
As Christians, the Bible is clear throughout its pages that we’re called to give generously. Even in the Old testament from the book of Exodus chapter 35, we see the Israelites generously giving the materials and time to build the tabernacle. If any of those people decided to withhold the materials they owned or the skills they had, the tabernacle wouldn’t have come together.
In John 3:16-18 – God himself gave us his only son because he loves us so much, and that Son died on a cross for us. It sets a model that generosity in God’s people should be sacrificial.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Here’s a small sampling of what the Bible has to say about giving generously
Luke 11:13 – If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Matthew 6:19-21; “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
Malachi 3:10-12 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty”.
OTHER SCRIPTURES
Hebrews 13:16; “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased…”
Matthew 10:8; “… Freely you have received; freely give…”
Acts 20:32-35; “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
How do we give generously?
Luke 21:1-4; “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 19:8; “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Matthew 6:1-4; “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life”.
What does it mean to be a generous giver?
Matthew 26:6-13
“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”.
Psalm 112:5
“Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice..”
2 Corinthians 9:10-15
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
Final thoughts
So give with a glad and generous heart because the very act of letting go of money does something within us. It destroys the demon greed and allows generosity to grow.
Proverbs 11:24; “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty”. Proverbs 11:25; “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed”.
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