John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Look at the results this brought to millions of God hungry people: from death unto eternal life. All because of love and giving!
By nature a child grows up taking things, not giving them. Teaching little ones to give is a challenging endeavor for parents. A young person thinks if you give something you lose it.
As Christians we learn that giving is not only the honorable way to live, but also the most prosperously way to live.
Acts 20:35:
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Our attitude of giving should not become one of obligation to do it. God's desire is for us to understand His benefits so that we will give cheerfully.
II Corinthians 9:7:
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
There is the promise of God that declares we get abundantly blessed when we give.
Luke 6:38:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; 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.
This is the result of giving.
Really when you think about it, by God's mercy and grace, He has given us a huge amount of riches by just the act of getting born again. (Romans 10:9). From death unto eternal life is, in of itself, worthy enough for us to be motivated to give regardless if nothing comes back to us.
God has given us the gift of holy spirit. With this fantastic gift we have the capacity to give as Jesus Christ gave.
Matthew 10:8:
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Purpose of the Tithe in the Old Testament
An important purpose of the tithe in the Old Testament was to teach His people to put God first.
Deuteronomy 14:23:
And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
We are taught in God's Word to love Him fully and completely. "...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind;..." (Luke 10:27). The act of giving of our finances is the one grand step we take in demonstrating that we truly put God first.
The Heart of Giving
Giving with the notion of increasing your bank account is not a Godly motive. Behind every act of giving should be the heart of love. Your vision is seeing God's people blessed and seeing God's Word reach out around the world.
The heart of giving is not about us, but others. Yet, when we exercise the love of God that we have shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5: 5) and give to others in the outreach of God's Word, God honors it.
II Corinthians 9:8:
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:
Giving is what makes all we have today available. God gives it all out for us. May we be "...imitators of God as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ has loved us..." (Ephesians 5:1&2).
- Bob Lindfelt
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“God has no favorites. Prosperity is dependent upon certain definite laws which everyone may learn and apply. But the law of prosperity must be viewed in a spiritual light. When prosperity is viewed in its true spiritual perspective, then other values in life fall into proper “For a Christian the tithe is a minimum external manifestation of an internal spiritual recognition that God is our basic source of supply Christians Should Be Prosperous by Victor Paul Wierwille |
“Trusting God Concerning Giving and Receiving”
Sunday Teaching Series with Four Parts
October 2, 9, 23 and 30 at 10:30 AM / Sunday Teaching Fellowship
At: Point Loma Assembly / By Jan Magiera
This month Jan Magiera will be doing a four part teaching series on some of the principles of abundant giving and receiving. The teachings will be incorporated into the 10:30 AM Sunday Teaching Fellowships.
We will get into II Corinthians 8 and 9 as well as other important Scriptures. Some of the questions we will be handling are: Does God really want me to be financially prosperous? If so, how do I prosper His way? Why is tithing not in the New Testament? Is there an application of the tithe in the Administration of grace? What is the difference between tithes, offerings and first-fruits? Was Jesus Christ poor? Who are the poor and how is a distribution to be made to the poor? Who should determine who is poor? What does “as a man purposeth in his heart” mean? What is the application of sowing and reaping in our culture today?
The teachings on Sunday will be followed up during the week with a workshop fellowship.
We will be continuing the study of the topic by investigating certain aspects of giving and their application in our lives.
The teachings will then be posted in the Audio Teachings section of the website under the corresponding dates.
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