UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF GIVING

We all know about giving but not everyone knows the importance of doing so. Giving is an act of righteousness that come from our duty as human to help each others, it is also called Charity. In the bible we read about the charity of giving and also how God uses people to bless others, or how people were moved by the spirit to give. Giving his God's nature and we see that in the word of God. He is the first giver because he gave us this earth for men to live. There are many types of giving but we are going to focus on MONEY because it is very controversial and because many people do not like the idea of giving money, especially to churches. The greatest mistake I have observed Christians does when it comes to giving in church is when they see their giving as a way of enriching the church not as doing what God commanded. Due to this Christians are the most complainers when it comes to finances and breakthroughs. When giving it doesn't mean you are giving as a way of making a church or your pastor rich, but see it as a sacrifice to the true and living God. We read in the bible however, that Abraham met Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God and gave him a tenth part of all of his spoil. (Hebrews 7:1-3) A matter of fact, it is stated that seedtime and harvest will not cease as long as the earth remains (Genesis 8:22). Therefore tithes and offering are also a part of giving. Giving money to the Church is a form of a sacrifice, but it is not the ultimate sacrifice that many people think it is which make it so hard for them to do. The ultimate sacrifice is giving oneself as a living sacrifice. We read in the bible where money were given to assist in God's work, see Mark 12:41- 44 and Act 4:33-37. Giving is also a form of worship when it is done in God's name truthfully. It is very important as Christians that we give because it is the nature and will of God, therefore, as Christians, we must take on the nature and do the will of God. If we go back in the early days we will see that the Levities, priests (Priesthood) live from what the people of Israel give as a sacrifice to God, and in those days no one complain about giving like many do today. Why, because everyone knew in those days that it was a part of their duty to do so. To give is a blessing, especially to the Church, therefore we must practice giving daily. What is Seed-time and Harvest? The principle of seed time and harvest is recorded in Genesis 8: 22, "While the Earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease." Seedtime and Harvest time in the bible basically means, once you sow, you will reap or in other word if you give you shall receive. But it doesn't necessarily mean that you will reap the same time you sow although some have, the truth is, when a farmer sows his chops he has to wait for it to develop. In the same ways we as Christian sows and wait upon God for our return. The farmer also water and fertilizer his chops to help them grow and ready for harvest. So in the same ways we must prepare to give thanks and praise for our harvest even though we do not see it, and it might even take a while but if we have patience and Faith we will receive. There is a law of sowing and reaping. Look around you; everything comes from a seed! the trees, the flowers, the grass, the birds, the animals, the fish, and even you! You don't have to be a Christian to practice sowing or giving. Many people who are not Christians do apply this principle to their lives and got result. Seedtime and Harvest is for everyone and anyone who want to practice it by giving or sowing into God's work or into someone's else life. God had set the law of giving from the beginning of creation and he demonstrate that all through the bible, but the greatest of his giving to mankind is when he send is only son Jesus to die for us. God sow into this world and he is still reaping today the harvest of we becoming Christians. Why it is important to give The practice of giving is a strong demonstration of LOVE toward others. You give not necessary, expecting back a blessing from those you give to, a real giver gives according to one's needs when their hearts is move in sympathy toward them. We also give because we should help one another, showing brotherly love for each others. Giving to the Church is a must because the bible says in, Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of host, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it). Clearly from that we can see that God expect us to give to his house and we know the house of God is the Church. But many people is not with the idea of giving money to the Church, because of the view that they are only making the Pastors rich. But what Christians should know is that giving to the Church is a part of our duty, just as how in the same way the Israelites once gave to the priests of Levities (Priesthood). Yes the priesthood become complacent and lost focus on the main goal, and God did punish them for their evil ways, but God never judge the people who gave, and you know why? Because the Levities, priests were responsible for what they receive and how they use it, and on the other hand God did not punish the givers who gave to them. Therefore, once you give and dedicate your tithes and offering to the work and function of the Church, God will bless you because his words say "prove him" (Malachi 3:10). Giving to the church is helping with the function and the daily activity to run a church. Therefore, when someone say to you we must not give money to the church ask them, how then will the church function? Yes, many people that are out there preaching, teaching and even prophesying is not really called by God and because of this, they abuse the use of giving money to the church, making it insignificant and none biblical. Therefore not all churches are fruitful ground and may not be a good place to sow into, because not every church is being guided by the Holy Spirit. So it is very important that we pray before we sow and give to any Church or anyone. It is possible that we may meet someone who is in need and we need to act quickly and therefore we do not pray, but that is why we as Christians should live a prayerful life. So when things like that occur, we can know and discern what to do, Yes, everyone need help in one way or the other, but that doesn't mean everyone you meet, you should help because we can't help everyone, and maybe at the time you are not the even person God want to use to be a blessing to that person. The law of sowing and reaping applies to everything, both in the natural and the spiritual world- If you sow love, you receive love - If you sow hatred, you receive hatred - If you sow criticism, you will be criticised - If you sow encouragement, you will be encouraged - If you sow the gospel, the result is born again Christians. Money was invented by man later, but represents the fruit of our labour. The law of Seedtime and Harvest applies to Money too! This principle is confirmed in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" Below is some Scriptures about Blessing Deuteronomy 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you. 1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly. Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 11:24-25 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 21:26 …the righteous gives and does not hold back. Proverbs 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses. Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Matthew 6:3-4 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Mark 12:41-44 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Luke 3:11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him wouldn't perish, but would have eternal life. Acts 20:35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. Romans 12:8 …Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; Philippians 4:15-17 And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonian you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Sowing and reaping are foundational principles that will never go away. Seedtime and harvest refer to every area of life, not just money. Seeds that are sown into the ground determine what type of crops will grow. For example, if a farmer sows corn seeds into the ground, he is sure to receive a harvest of corn. Likewise, when you sow money you will receive money. . Note: This lesson was not written entirely by us. Parts of this lesson was taking from different articles that was written by different people on the topic therefore we are not taking credit for all of it. This was post only to help those who read it to understand about the importance of the topic, to the glory of God.