More on Giving Finances
I received quite a bit of feedback on my recent article, “The Christian and the
Cash.” Most of it was quite favorable. I received the following tidbit from Bro.
Robert Fitts. I liked it and thought it would bless many others as well regarding
this same subject.
Heeeere’s Robert…!
Mike
…I was editing a book I am writing and am sending the part on giving
which contains some of the verses on giving. Robert
From tenth to total . . . giving generously, expecting the promised blessing.
Most of us were taught that when we give our tithes and offerings to
God, we are to expect nothing in return. In one sense this is true. We are
to give without expecting anything in return from the one to whom we
give. But all through the Bible when God admonishes us to give, there
follows a promise of blessing to the giver. This blessing is to come
from the hands of our heavenly Father himself, but normally it comes
through the hands of one of his servants.
Here are a few of the passages that encourage us to give, followed
with the promise of material blessing:
“There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more. And there is one
who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want.”
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And
God is able to make all grace (material blessing) abound (overflow)
to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound (overflow) in every good work.”
(II Cor. 9:7-8)
“Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your
produce; so your barns will overflow with plenty and your vats will
overflow with new wine.” (Prov. 3:9-10)
“The generous man will be prosperous and he who waters will
himself be watered.” (Prov. 11:25)
“Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For
whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you
in return.” (Luke 6:38)
These verses, and many others like them, make it clear that we are
not only to give generously to the Lord but we are to look to the Lord
to fulfill his promises to bless those who give.
We cannot ignore any of God’s promises without offending his
goodness and mercy toward us. The reason these promises have not
been fulfilled in many lives is because we have been taught to give
without any expectation of return; that it is wrong to give expecting
something in return. It is not wrong to give and then expect God to
do what he has clearly promised in his word that he would do. That
is called FAITH, and without faith it is impossible to please him.
It is dishonoring and disrespectful to God to completely ignore a
promise he has made to me. I am father to two sons and five daughters.
If I make any one of them a promise and they take it lightly or
completely ignore it, that certainly does not make me feel good. In
fact it makes me feel very sad.
God gives promises to us so that we may take hold of them and be
blessed. It is a trick of the devil to blind us to these promises of
material blessings by making us think “you are just giving to get,
which is pure selfishness.” You can give totally unselfishly, then
after you give, just remember his promises and expect to see them
come to pass.
For many years I gave, expecting nothing in return and that is just
what I received. Then one day I saw my error and began to give
with expectation of material blessing. I have found that Jesus keeps
his promises to the one who is trusting in his promises in an attitude
of expectation.
Michael agauin: Well put, Robert! Thanks! I pray, dear reader,
that you were as blessed by these truths as I was.
Every blessing,
Micael Tummillo
A servant of God
July 30th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Well done Robert Fitts,