Giving and Receiving from God (2)
Believers should learn to give and receive from the Lord systematically and in faithfulness. Abraham was faithful to God and had an abiding faithfulness. The Lord chose Abram to render abundant offering to Him. Similarly, as He has chosen us and we are now kingdom citizens, He expects us to replicate Abraham’s faithfulness.
Sadly, today, some believers claim to be faithful in a given area, but they neglect other areas of the Christian life. They spend their money on themselves and fail to give their tithes and offering to God. Others give, but end up publicising it. God frowns at that and counts it as hypocrisy and unfaithfulness.
God is able to make all grace abound toward us to give without counting the cost. Those who keep on giving to the Lord at all costs have received such grace in their lives. They bring their substance for the work of the Lord cheerfully. Christ gave His all and did not reserve anything selfishly. He commands that we lay not for ourselves treasures in earthly banks, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.
When we give with a perfect and willing heart for the work of soulwinning and seeking the expansion of God’s kingdom, He acknowledges and registers it on our account in heaven. He takes note of what we give. No wonder He commended the giving of the poor widow. While the rich gave out of their abundance, she gave all the living that she had.
As believers, we must charge the rich not to trust in their riches, but in God and lay their treasures in heaven that they may lay hold on eternal life. The Lord commands us to give selflessly, cheerfully and wholeheartedly, if we must have abundant fruitfulness and our giving remembered by Him. He wants us to look unto Abraham our father, for God called him alone, blessed him, and increased him. He remained selfless in his giving.
Like the Corinthian brethren, who first gave themselves to the Lord, we should give ourselves unreservedly to the Lord as well as our substance. When there was famine in Israel, God commanded a widow to sustain Elijah. She did not think of her present condition. Rather, she went and did according to the saying of Elijah, and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. Elijah’s declaration that she would outlive the famine came to pass.
If we obey the Lord unreservedly, like the people in Bible days, we will enjoy abundant prosperity, fruitfulness and joy.
Further reading (King James Version): Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 11:8; Romans 4:3,9,16,22-25; Galatians 3:6-9,11,26-29; Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20-22; Malachi 3:8-10; 1 Chronicles 29:9,12-14; Nehemiah 9:7,8; Luke 16:10-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Proverbs 3:9,10; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 21:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Isaiah 51:1,2; 2 Corinthians 8:5; 1 Kings 17:8-16.
