I have heard this a couple of times in a number of churches and sometimes it makes me ask, “Does God’s blessing of us stand on the premise of our giving?” What about the people who do not believe in God, doesn’t God blessed them too? At times, it is implied that for those who are in business, when they give more, their business will prosper. Again, is this what the Bible is really talking about? Is it not more of the rewards in heaven? (Or maybe I just have a small faith!) Please do not take me wrong. I am not debating the essence of giving because I know that professing Christians ought to know and practice giving back what is due to God. Anyone who is accused of being a believer needs to grow in giving or share the resources God bestowed on him. I am still growing in giving.
Often times, I am bothered to hear preachers and people who give a testimony that when we give more…God gives more. God chooses to bless whom he blesses. We do not give God in order to be blessed. We give because we love him, not because we expect to receive back. Why do I question the above statement? One of the truths is God that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We do not convince churchgoers to give to the church because of a need, but because they know why out of our right motive. Do not make the church appear as if it exists to make people wealthy because they give more. Again, I say, God chooses to bless. He makes the sun shine on both the wicked and the righteous. No one is too good to be poor and no one is too bad to be rich. Just keep giving! God sees and He rewards!
Well, just a thought!:)
well said! it is indeed misleading to preach about giving more in order to be given more/blessed. Not all churchgoing people understand that they are to give because they love God so preachers should make sure that their people understand this or else we will have Simons in our churches who will give to buy the power, grace, or salvation of God. That would be sad.
ReplyDeletemaybe those preachers are just invoking their members to give more so that the church funds will reach to the brim...hehe...
ReplyDelete1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 6:7
ReplyDeleteFor we brought nothing into the world\, and we can take nothing out of
it. 6:8 But if we have food and clothing\, we will be content with that.
6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into
many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and
destruction. 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people\, eager for money\, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.\nTo be content in a materialistic world is
no easy task. To give up the possibliblity of having a good career with
an abundance of material possessions isn't easy. Some must do this to
follow Christ. We need to learn to view life from eternity's perspective
so we can realize that giving up goods here\, in order to have more goods
in eternity is worth while\, and the ultimate blessing.
thank you dad for putting all these verses!
ReplyDelete