Non-Wacked Out Giving

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday March 12, 2009

2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Notice that a gift is acceptable ACCORDING TO WHAT ONE HAS and NOT according to what he does NOT have!

There is a false teaching in many churches that says you should give beyond what you are physically able to!! That teaching has caused some people to actually go into debt!!

But on the other hand, YES, we SHOULD expect a return when we give to God's work or to any Christian. We are just supposed to give ACCORDING TO WHAT WE HAVE!!

I might have lost some people by stating that we should expect to receive a return when we give to believers, because there is a common misinterpretation of one of Jesus' teachings on giving that says we should always give without expecting anything in return. But that's not talking about giving to Christians, or giving to God's work; it's talking about giving to the "ungrateful and wicked":

Luke 6:35 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Is the ministry you give to your enemy??? Are the believers you give to "ungrateful and wicked"??? NO and NO!

Jesus was talking specifically about giving to the ungrateful and wicked when He said to give without expecting anything in return! Scriptural giving of tithes and offerings demands that you DO get a return for what you give, and you're supposed to EXPECT it!!!

Luke 6:38 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Jesus said that if we give, it will be given to us in return!!

Philippians 4:15-17 (NIV)
15. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving AND RECEIVING, except you only; 16. for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.
17. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to YOUR ACCOUNT.

Notice that Paul calls it a matter of "giving AND RECEIVING"!!! If we were supposed to give to believers without expecting anything in return, it would just be a matter of GIVING!! But Paul said in verse 17 that what was given to him by the Philippians would be credited TO THEIR ACCOUNT!!

Sewing is supposed to be done with EXPECTATION of HARVEST!

1 Corinthians 9:7-11 (NIV)
7. Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?
8. Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9. For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
10. Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?

When you work your job, you sew your work, and you reap a paycheck. The very principle of giving and receiving rules everything on this planet!! Without a seed being sewn, there will be no plant, person, or animal, and therefore no "harvest", and life on earth would end.

But still, when we give, God makes it clear that we should give wisely:

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 (NIV)
13. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15. as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

Paul tells us that he does NOT desire to see some people "hard pressed" while others are relieved; but that there might be EQUALITY... in other words; God wants EVERYONE'S needs met. If you give more than you are able to a person or ministry that is not "hard pressed", so that you yourself become "hard pressed", then how is God glorified? The only time it is commended to give "beyond your ability" would be when you're giving to those who are even more "hard pressed" than yourself:

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NIV)
1. And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4. they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

Lets not get off in a ditch on either side of the road. We can be generous by giving according to what we HAVE to the people and/or ministries that the Holy Spirit leads us to give into! It is the Holy Spirit who knows the needs of every believer, and it is HE who can lead us each individually into the most productive giving.

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your wonderful, life-giving Word. Help me comprehend Your Word and rightly divide it so I can allow You to govern my life completely.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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