Lesson SIX
Book A
GOD'S LAWS ON GIVING AND RECEIVING
"For God so loved the world that he gave....." John 3:16
GIVING IS THE NATURE OF GOD
Another way to put this is "Giving is God's nature", therefore taking at another's expense is the devil's nature. If you operate in God's nature, you will be rewarded by God, who only gives good gifts. James 1:17
Operate in the devil's nature, and you will be rewarded by the devil. He can only kill, steal and destroy. John 10:10. Although he is able to make it attractive on the way, the rewards of sin are death. James 1:15
The disciples, seeking to feel sorry for themselves, mentioned to Jesus that they had left all to follow Him. Jesus told them that, "There is no-one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands (houses) for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children lands with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life". Mark 10:29,30
THE REWARDS OF GIVING ARE NOW AND FUTURE
The hundredfold return mentioned by the Lord Jesus was a now return. It was also substance, not just spiritual feelings or gifts. Obviously the Lord is not going to bless you materially at the expense of your spiritual life. Our riches are in Heaven first and foremost. However, God's provision is also physical and in the now arena.
WHAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO GIVE TO ONE AND NOT THE OTHER?
Simply that god cannot bless a person who has a taking spirit. He blesses only those who give, and give a certain way.
To give willingly/cheerfully/wantonly is vital. To give in faith, believing and trusting God in it, is vital. To show that your total dependence is on Him is vital.
He can only become Jehovah Jireh - your provider - when you believe Him. It is all done by faith.
TITHING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament embraces the principles of the old, without the condemnation that goes along with it. In the New Testament the central theme is that God puts a new spirit within you. It is from this nature that we function. We do not seek to avoid good, but seek rather to do it on every occasion. We want to do good because our hearts have changed. Against this background we look into the laws of tithing. In fact, we can call it the grace of tithing, or the tithing principles.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be good in My house (now the church). And prove Me now in this". says the Lord. "If I will not open for you the windows of Heaven and pour out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it". Malachi 3:10
A tithe means ten percent. Ten percent of your gross income, which is the Lord's part. Offerings and alms come after this. The tithe should go to the church/storehouse from where you get fed.
JESUS REINSTATED TITHING
"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay a tithe of mint/anise/cummin (garden herbs) and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy (compassion), faith. these you ought to have done without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23:23
Here Jesus reinstates tithing in its proper position. Not the first thing you think about, but nevertheless not to be left out. Attitudes of heart are the more weightier matters before God, but tithing does count for your own benefit.
Offerings are to be given as the Spirit of God shows. Sometimes it's just your very own compassion that does it.
Alms are giving to the poor. A straight compassion exercise from your heart to those needier than you. Each time you give, you will know whether or not you consider the Lord as your provider, by the way that you hold on to money or by the ease with which you part with it.
THE LAWS OF GIVING AND RECEIVING
A widow women in our church one night, was asked by the last people closing up the church for a lift. She had a car, but virtually no petrol in it. The couple were in need and lived several miles outside of town. She had been told how to rely on God as her source, but the Lord was urging her to put into action what she had learnt.
Quickly she agreed, although she pointed out that the Lord would have to do a miracle with the petrol situation. As they began to drive down the road in obedience to the spirit of God, the Lord filled up her tank in front of all their eyes. The petrol gauge began to go up, up, up. Finally it was full. She pointed it out to all in the car and they watched as God filled up the tank. Coming home the petrol was coming out of the tank when the petrol cap was removed. God supplying in abundance, as she gave.
Elijah asked the widow women to do something similar in 1 Kings 17:12. As the widow women gave she received for her whole household for years to come.
GOD'S GIVING COMES AS YOU GIVE
Sometimes God wants you to give in the time of famine. Not because He's mean, but because your dependency and faith is really realised when you can give in the time of famine.
Even if you have nothing to give, God promises that you will be supplied with something to give, if you ask for it. "He supplies seed to the sower , and bread for food". 2 Cor 9:10. Seed for sowing is money or something for you to give. As you give so you receive, is the law.
"Give and it will be given to you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. He who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Luke 6:38
As you give and the percentage you give, so will you receive. That is a promise! It's not always immediately. "Cast your bread upon the waters and after many days it will come back to you". Eccl. 11:1
THE ATTITUDE OF HEART IS VITAL
Greed is not of god and will get no response from Him. Neither will an unwilling giver 2 Cor. 9:7. God loves a cheerful giver. Our walk is a faith walk. We have to venture beyond that which is seen, into the spiritual arena of faith in God's promises.
We don't give merely to get. We give to fulfil the nature of God, the giver within us. We love to give because giving is loving and God is love. 1 John 4:18. And God is in us.
It is exciting because God never lets us down. Obviously your heart has to be pure, your motives right. But when it is God's bountiful supply is always there. Praise the Lord!
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19.
JEHOVAH JIREH IS OUR PROVIDER! PTL
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