Giving is not the same as tithe. Many ministries lure people to give in order to become rich. There are TV shows promising wrong and unbiblical expectations. The verses these preachers use may sound very legitimate and correct. Knowing and doing the will of God through giving teaches you to study context first. We should interpret it as to what a certain verse is talking about; you will see that preachers are.
Giving is a blessing. Selfish and greedy preachers have misused giving to God. They are reaping cash from the dumb Christian crowd. The people who give never get rich but the people they give to do. They boast about buying houses and cars with cash. Some even buy airplanes for their so-called ministries. They turn around and say you will become like them if you give to them.
God has instituted giving as a means to help people in need. If you give to the poor, you give to the Lord. Store up your treasure in heaven. The way to store up your treasure in heaven is to give to the poor and needy. Knowing and doing the will of God through giving leads you to people in need.
Jesus also strictly forbids us from boasting about giving. Let not your right hand know what the left hand is giving. Today we have broadcasts all over telling the whole world how much you are giving to each other's ministry. Your boasting is all the blessing you will ever get when your time before the Lord comes for accountability.
C.S. Lewis said that if you are giving does not hurt your pocket book it is not giving. Faith and giving go together as an exercise before the Lord. When you do not have enough to give, God does not expect you to give. God only expects you to give to some one in need when you have that money. God does not command you to pledge to give to a ministry when you do not have that money at hand at that time.
That is real giving and do not broadcast it to the entire world about how much to whom, you have given. Let the Lord Judge you regarding your intentions for giving. Knowing and doing the will of God through Giving will teach you that it hurts to give.
Do not withhold your hand to your neighbor when you have the money. This is where faith comes in and trusts God to supply your need when you have met the needs of another person. Do not equate this to giving to a particular ministry. Giving to ministries has become a business and fraud today. Becoming full time has become a very profitable business venture for many.
Robert Fenn is a pastor, preacher, mentor and bible teacher for over 40 years.
His writings reflect his personal daily walk, struggles, victories and failures. He loves to share God's unfailing love, protection and guidance to others throughout his life.
No comments:
Post a Comment