By Lisa Wilmore
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Throughout the Bible, God instructs us to give. As we honor what He says, we exemplify obedience to Him. Because we honor His Word and do what He asks of us, He honors His Word when He tells us to “Give, and it shall be given unto us; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).
As I listened to a “question and answer” moment during a specific Bible lesson, the question was asked, “What is the difference between tithing and sowing? Of course, the teacher began to answer the question with the familiar passage of scriptures noted in Malachi: “Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of host, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for you to receive it” (Malachi 3: 10 KJV). He also taught that sowing is a part of your offering, after you have given God’s tithes.
Interestingly, he began to talk about certain television, radio, social media, etc. ministries’ appeal to individuals of how they can receive a blessing from God. The individuals coach the listener to send a certain amount of money and they will receive a blessing or God will give them what they have been asking for and so much more. Keep in mind that our giving should not be predicated on our getting, but our love and honor for God. When we give, our giving must come from a heart of thanksgiving and not a heart of “Lord give me”.
Is God pleased with your giving? Does your love for Him show through your giving? Paul records in the letter to the Corinthian church principles of how we must give. He writes, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you: that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
As a result of our giving, God blesses those persons who honor Him. However, we cannot beat God’s giving, even if we tried. Jesus Christ…Given to save the world! Hallelujah!!
