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by Sandy Shaw
We come to that time of the year when many think about ‘giving’ and God has much to say and teach us about ‘giving’. There is more said in the Gospels about ‘giving’ that on any other one subject.
‘Promise’ and ‘Promises’ are used over a thousand times in the Bible. Our God is a promise keeping God – and when we give there is invariably a promise attached.
God wants us to build our life on His promises.
God makes both unconditional & conditional promises – where there are no strings attached – for example, the second coming of Jesus Christ.
God makes promises to us for two reasons – some are based on obedience – a requirement – a premise to various promises – if you do this, then I will do that.
God shows us how to teach us to trust Him in difficult times.
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise renews my life.” When I’m hurting, I find comfort in your promise that leads to life. Psalm 119 verse 50. When we face difficult times in life, we need God’s reassuring and encouraging promises. “You are my refuge and my shield: I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119 verse 114. When it comes to giving, trust in God.
One of God’s aims is to make us more like Jesus Christ.
2Peter 1verse 4 – “ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” In fact, we cannot become more like Jesus if we do not believe God’s Promises.
What does God make promises about, more than anything else – not faith – not prayer – but being generous. Giving is hard because giving challenges our selfishness. People want to spend their money on themselves. And we know that this whole matter of giving can be abused and misused and can become controversial. I wonder who is behind that?
GOD PROMISES that good things will happen to me when I am generous and when I give. “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.” Psalm 112verse 5 “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22verse 9.
GOD PROMISES to bless our children – to bless our work and businesses – and to meet our needs. In Bible times their barns represented their business – their career – and how you make a living.
Acts 20 verse 35 – the words of Jesus – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Many refer to this scripture with a wry smile – with humour – even ridicule. I wonder why?
GOD PROMISES that as I give generously, I will receive more. You cannot outgive God. Luke 6 verse 38 – Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given back to you in full measure. What you receive will need to be pressed down and shaken together, but it will still run over and be poured into your lap! The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
Giving is not a debt I owe – it is a seed I sow. God does not need our money – but this is how He teaches us to be generous – to trust Him – to become more like Him.
Any money I spend on myself is soon gone – but what I spend on those in need in the Name of Jesus goes on working and producing a harvest.
Now remember – the harvest is never immediate – seldom is the harvest instant - we plant in one season and harvest sometime later.
GOD PROMISES that my giving is stored up in heaven.
1Timothy 6 verses 18,19 – Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
“Store up treasure in heaven” – Jesus mentions that five times – more than speaking about being ‘born again’! You are using money – time – talents – energy – to be involved in preaching and proclaiming the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. You cannot take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.
We really only believe the part of the Bible that we do.
Tithing and ‘giving to God’ is more than ‘giving to charity’ – it is investing. Invest in the Bank of Heaven – there are branches all over the place. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, make sure you are giving to the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One sentence I heard some 30 years ago challenged me greatly – “If God gave you ten times what you give God, could you live on it?”
“Lord God – our heavenly Father – You are such a generous God – that day when You created the water, You were so generous. We thank You that you gave Jesus to be our Saviour and Lord – we thank You for that mercy – for forgiveness for our sin and sins – for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, continuing today. Use the money we give, as we pray for those who allocate these resources, O risen and living Jesus.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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