Principles of Christian Giving

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             Anchor Scripture: Luke 6:38

The doctrine of stewardship or Christian giving is as important as witnessing, reading and studying our bible and praying. The average Christian should learn and practice the Lord’s teaching. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Only sacrificial giving will make possible the continuance of fruitful evangelistic and missionary work. This lesson will teach us to give towards the work of God on earth irrespective of our present circumstances.

THE BASIS OF GIVING

No one can truly give the way God has ordained until the one becomes a Christian. Anyone who is not saved lives for self and cannot know why he/she should give. Are you saved? Consider the following:

 A. Thee love gift of God to mankind- John 4:10, Rom 5:15, 8:32, 2 Cor. 9:15.

B.   The sacrificial giving of Jesus is an example for every true Christian- 2 Cor 8:9, John 10:11, Phil 2:5-8.

Every giving from a Christian should be motivated by love for God and the cross of Jesus Christ where our burdens were lifted. The closer we are to Christ, the more we can appreciate the work at Calvary.

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OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN GIVING

The Bible commands us to give to God, to  His Saints, to support were we receive spiritual help and nourishment, and also the needy- Deut 16:17, Matt 6:3, 1 Cor 16:2, 2 Cor 9:7.

PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN GIVING

 1.  Give willingly- 2 Cor 8:12-15, 2 Cor 9:7
Our attitude in giving is as important as what we are giving. God loves a cheerful giver and doesn’t collect any gift from one who gives with grudges, murmuring and complaining. If you are not excited about giving, God is not interested in what you want to give. God is not a taskmaster, He only receives gift from a willing heart. Therefore, as a Christian, you should always give willingly. Don’t make it look as if anyone is forcing you to give.

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  2. Give according to what you have, your ability and possession- 1 Cor 16:2, 2 Cor 8:12, Deut 16:17.
God cannot ask you to give what you don’t have. Don’t borrow to give to God, it’s an error. It is what God has first given to you that He will ask you to give to Him. God first gave Isaac to Abraham before He demanded for Isaac as a sacrifice. Anything God has not given to you, He will never ask you to give to Him. So if a preacher is asking for one million and you don’t have it, you are not the person God is asking to give. Bible based giving is according to what you have, and not what you don’t have.

 3. Give according to Jesus’ example- 2 Cor 8:9, 1 John 2:6, 1 Peter 2:21
Our giving to God should be sacrificial. If it is not sacrificial, it is not beneficial. Giving to God what costs you nothing will profit you nothing. Jesus gave His precious life and blood for us sacrificially, we should follow His example. Don’t give your trash to God and expect Him to give you His treasure. We should learn to give God our best because He gave us His best.

4. Give according to the example of the early disciples- Luke 21:1-4, John 12:1-8, Acts 4:32-34
The early disciples gave in one mind and one spirit. They didn’t claim that whatever they had belonged to them alone. They shared and distributed their belongings among themselves equally. Their generosity was so overwhelming that some of them sold their own lands and properties and brought the money to the Apostles feet to be used to solve the needs of their fellow Christians.

5.  Give according to your desired blessing- Luke 6:38, Matt 19:29, 1 Kings 17:8-16
Whatever harvest you desire, you can use your seed to determine it. We should give according to the size of the blessing we desire to receive from God. You can’t give God trash and expect to receive treasures.

BLESSINGS OF GIVING
Are there blessings in giving? Yes. Now let’s consider them briefly.

 (A) God will bless the giver with every good thing of life such as protection, open door, financial prosperity, good health, family peace, deliverance, favour, grace, promotion etc- Luke 6:38, Mal 3:8-12, 2 Cor 9:6-11.

 (B) God will supply all needs here and now- Phil 4:19, Prov 11:24.

 (C) A giver will receive great reward in heaven- Matt 6:19-21, Luke 16:9-12, 1Tim 6:17-19.

Giving of Alms

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Our financial offering is a part of our spiritual stewardship. One of the reasons We give is to show our love for Christ who first loved us. We give because we want the work of God to progress. Giving is one area where a genuine love for God is tested. It is important for us to understand that God is not in any financial need and cannot depend on the pocket of any mortal man or woman for the advancement of His Kingdom. God will never need you for anything. But you will always need God for everything. When you give to God or His servants, you are not doing God any favor. You are only setting yourself up for a financial breakthrough. God can do it all by Himself. He used the ravenous bird to feed His servant Elijah. He gave Moses and His people Israel water from the rock. He delivered money into the hands of Peter from the mouth of the fish. God's ways are past finding out and His thoughts are higher than the thoughts of men. We must understand that it is a privilege to give to God and to His servants. No man in his best can really pay for all the goodness of God in his life and family. Let's begin to explore God’s way of supporting His ministry and Ministers

THE NEED TO GIVE TO THE CHURCH

The Church is the most spending agency in the world. The church needs money for evangelism, for buildings, to rent a place, for transportation, for payment of the workers, for hospitality, for the printing of tracts and Christian books, for church planting, etc. The principle is, “give and it shall be given to you” (Luke 6:38). If God must give to us, then we must give to support His work in the church. God first, so you must give to God first before you give to the beggars in the street or any other man. What you are giving to your spouse, children, friends, and relatives must not be equal to what you give to God. If you love God more than yourself, your giving to God should show it. Those who truly love God give Him their best. The bible says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). 

THE NEED TO GIVE TO THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL

This is one area that needs plenty of courage before a preacher can teach it in this end-time when people are lovers of themselves and lovers of pleasure and not of God. In our text, Apostle Paul dealt exclusively with this subject. He quoted from the Old Testament and lamented on the non-challant attitude of the Corinthian Christians towards their Ministers. The Corinthians could go from bible study to miracle service in other to be prayed for so that they can prosper but neglected the Ministers who labor and pray for them (1 Cor 9:12). He feared that if he tells them to support him, they might pick offense (1 Cor 9:15). But he insisted that:

(A) That the ministers of the gospel should be well cared for (1 Cor 9:6-9). 

The grace that you don't care for will not add value to your life. It is a protocol of the kingdom that your blessings would come when you honor your Prophet. You get blessed when you bless your man or woman of God. God has put your prosperity in the mouth of your Prophet and until you honor him, your breakthrough will never come. Giving to the Minister of God who feeds you and nurtures you Spiritually should be your delightful responsibility. If your Pastor is hungry and has no roof over his head and family while God has put His riches in your hand and you don't care about His servants, then you are heartless. 

(B) That the Ministers should labor in hope of the people’s full support (1 Cor 9:10).

It is a protocol of the Kingdom that Spiritual Impact from a Minister of the Gospel should generate material support from the people. Those who sow into your life spiritual things should expect to get a harvest of material things from you. It is your kingdom's responsibility to support those Ministers who impact your life spiritually.

(C) That it is the people’s responsibility to give material things such as clothes, food items, shelter, money, etc to their Pastors/Ministers (1 Cor 9:11).

(D) That the Ministers/Pastors should depend on the Church for support and care (1 Cor 9:13-14). The reason some Ministers leave their Clergy duties to look for secular jobs so they can get money to fetch for their families is that the Church is unable to provide for their material needs. But those who work in the Altar should eat from the altar.

It is a great sin if the members of a church are blessed; well dressed and well-fed and their Pastor suffers hunger and looks tattered. If your pastor will be a blessing to you, in particular, you must take it as a responsibility to take good care of your pastor and sow into his life. Servants of God are vehicles of grace and mercy but unless you fuel that vehicle grace will not come to you. The anointing you don’t service will never bless you. Don’t be that kind of believer who will always remember his pastor only when problems come. Also, remember your pastor when things are well with you. Pay tithe, give Prophet’s offering, and sow seed into the life of your man of God. May God make you a blessing to your church and your man of God in Jesus' name, amen. What we need now is an army of committed Christian givers. The harvest is great but labourers are few. Can the Lord depend on your money, time, strength, talents and service as long as you continue to live for Him? May God help us in Jesus name, amen.

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Get Pastor Damian Alamba's Book: THE MYSTERY OF PRAYER:  https://selar.co/tk7d

GOD'S WAY OF SUPPORTING HIS MINISTRY AND MINISTERS

Our financial offering is a part of our spiritual worship. We give to show our love for Him who first loved us. We give because we want the work of God to progress. This is one area where a genuine love for God is tested. Today’s lesson shall reveal to us God’s way of supporting His ministry and Ministers.

THE NEED TO GIVE TO THE CHURCH

The Church is the most spending agency in the world. The church needs money for evangelism, for buildings, to rent a place, for transportation, for payment of the workers, for hospitality, for the printing of tracts and Christian books, for church planting, etc. The principle is, “give and it shall be given to you” (Luke 6:38). If God must give to us, then we must give to support His work in the church. God first, so you must give to God first before you give to the beggars in the street or any other man. What you are giving to your spouse, children, friends, and relatives must not be equal to what you give to God. If you love God more than yourself, your giving to God should show it. Those who truly love God give Him their best. The bible says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). 

THE NEED TO GIVE TO THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL

This is one area that needs plenty of courage before a preacher can teach it in this end-time when people are lovers of themselves and lovers of pleasure and not of God. In our text, Apostle Paul dealt exclusively with this subject. He quoted from the Old Testament and lamented on the non-challant attitude of the Corinthian Christians towards their Ministers. The Corinthians could go from bible study to miracle service in other to be prayed for so that they can prosper but neglected the Ministers who labor and pray for them (1 Cor 9:12). He feared that if he tells them to support him, they might pick offense (1 Cor 9:15). But he insisted that:

(A) That the ministers of the gospel should be well cared for (1 Cor 9:6-9). 

The grace that you don't care for will not add value to your life. It is a protocol of the kingdom that your blessings would come when you honor your Prophet. You get blessed when you bless your man or woman of God. God has put your prosperity in the mouth of your Prophet and until you honor him, your breakthrough will never come. Giving to the Minister of God who feeds you and nurtures you Spiritually should be your delightful responsibility. If your Pastor is hungry and has no roof over his head and family while God has put His riches in your hand and you don't care about His servants, then you are heartless. 

(B) That the Ministers should labor in hope of the people’s full support (1 Cor 9:10).

It is a protocol of the Kingdom that Spiritual Impact from a Minister of the Gospel should generate material support from the people. Those who sow into your life spiritual things should expect to get a harvest of material things from you. It is your kingdom's responsibility to support those Ministers who impact your life spiritually.

(C) That it is the people’s responsibility to give material things such as clothes, food items, shelter, money, etc to their Pastors/Ministers (1 Cor 9:11).

(D) That the Ministers/Pastors should depend on the Church for support and care (1 Cor 9:13-14). The reason some Ministers leave their Clergy duties to look for secular jobs so they can get money to fetch for their families is that the Church is unable to provide for their material needs. But those who work in the Altar should eat from the altar.

Service as Giving

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Very often our commitment to the Lord is being shaken by many things we come across on our Christian journey. Sometimes one problem or the other makes many Christians relax from their Christian activities; some may attend church service for weeks. To such people, they think God hates them or no longer loves them. For such reasons they waver. The life of Christ in us compels us to trust God when we are facing storms of life. Circumstances have nothing to do with whether God loves us or not. Prosperity in itself is not total proof that God is with us and adversity is not evidence that God has forsaken us. In Matt 4:45, we learned from the attitude of Zachariah and Elizabeth his wife towards their problem and their services to God.

PROBLEMS AND COMMITMENT

Can you name what the bible is saying concerning this couple in Luke 1:5-7? Zachariah was a Priest who ministered in the house of God, he married legally and he like every other married couple expected the blessing of married children. Do you think that they have prayed to God to give them a child? For how long? This is where our commitment to the Lord comes to play. Two things that will always test the authenticity of our love and commitment to the Lord are problems and prosperity. Our attitude during times of trouble will show how much we love the Lord. If one fails in the time of adversity, his faith, and love for the Lord are very small. We should be committed to the Lord even in times of trouble and trials. If one gets off the track of faith and righteousness because he has seen money, popularity, or possessions, it shows his commitment to the Lord is very shallow. The prosperity of a fool is very dangerous to his soul. When you see money and start wavering in your spiritual life, it is the highest level of foolishness.

JOB’S COMMITMENT AND PROBLEM

Job’s life has much to teach us in these times when lack of commitment is dominating the lives of many Christians. When we examine Job’s life and commitment to the Lord (Job 1:1), his life was upright and perfect. He was committed to the fear of God and eschewed evil. His reactions over problems proved that His love and trust in God was not based on any material thing. Job loved God unconditionally. His commitment to God was born out of sincere love and solidarity, not for any material gain. Can this be said about you? Is there any material gain where your commitment to God is relying on? Some serve God for their belly, others because of the fish and the bread they will get from God. Can it be said about you that you fear God for nothing but your love and commitment to Him? Remember that service to God is a form of giving back to the one who made you in His image and likeness.

Unless we have decided to serve God in all circumstances, we have not yet begun to serve God. It takes a committed person to stand any trial. Zachariah and his wife looked away from their problem and continued in the service of the Lord. As a sister, will you look away from who will marry you and how old you are and look unto God who has the best for you?  As a brother, can you look away from your financial challenges and family issues and look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith? There is abundant joy when you commit yourself to God even to the end.

CONCLUSION

It is a great sin if the members of a church are blessed; well dressed and well-fed and their Pastor suffers hunger and looks tattered. If your pastor will be a blessing to you, in particular, you must take it as a responsibility to take good care of your pastor and sow into his life. Servants of God are vehicles of grace and mercy but unless you fuel that vehicle grace will not come to you. The anointing you don’t service will never bless you. Don’t be that kind of believer who will always remember his pastor only when problems come. Also, remember your pastor when things are well with you. Pay tithe, give Prophet’s offering, and sow seed into the life of your man of God. May God make you a blessing to your church and your man of God in Jesus' name, amen.

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