Christian Discipleship Course 29.

Question and answer: “I understand that I have to give money to God’s work, but can I be happy whilst doing it?

You have a choice to give out of compulsion, or because it is an expression of your love and devotion towards God.

2 Corinthians 9:8 ‘God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work’

We can liken our life to that of a manager or a good steward, one who looks after their master’s possessions. It should not be ‘my’ property, but His. God will bless you, in order for you to be a blessing. Trust God to direct and guide you how to use your resources for His Kingdom.

Fact: People often buy things they don’t need, to impress people they don’t like. You don’t need to seek man’s approval. 2 Corinthians 3:1, 10:18.

Greed can cause us to be so preoccupied with secular pursuits that we can forget why we are here. God gives us the ability to earn money, but He wants us to love Him, not money. Money can be stolen, and objects can corrode. You cannot take it with you when you die; look what happened to the Egyptian Pharaohs’ tombs. If you invest financially in eternal issues, you will reap earthly and heavenly rewards Deut. 8:18, Matthew 6:20.

Wisdom: Be committed to give with a right attitude. Give regularly, specifically, proportionately and with a big smile on your face.

There is a spiritual law of sowing and reaping Galatians 6:7-10, Luke 6:38. If you sow generously into God’s work, He will generously give back to you. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, ‘If you sow sparingly then you will reap sparingly and if you sow bountifully you will reap bountifully.’

If you try to grow a lawn with very little seed, don’t be surprised when it looks tatty. If you’re not tithing according to God’s word, the devourer has a legal right to hinder you and your financial “lawn” will be in tatters. Malachi 3:6-11.

Think: Am I a joyful giver to God’s work, or am I an unhappy scrooge?

More Info: Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 1 Chronicles 29:6,9, Proverbs 11:24,25, 22:9, 23:4, Ecclesiastes 11:1, Matthew 6:33, 19:16-26, 25:35,40, Luke 16:10-13, Romans 12:8, 13:8, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Colossians 3:23, 1 Timothy 6:6,10, 17-19, 2 Tim. 3:2,1 John 3:16-18.