A Heart to Give
A Giving Heart
A story is told of a wealthy man that had a daughter. His daughter went one weekend to a youth service where she was said to have given her heart to God. Upon learning that his daughter was now going to church the wealthy man went to the church pastor and asked him “How much is this salvation going to cost her” the pastor said salvation is free you don’t pay to be Christian. He asked again yea but how much will it cost! Once again the minister let him know coming to church was free and the youth services were free. The man was still un happy with the answers he was getting he asked yet a third time how much will it cost her to go to church and be a member here, how much does she have to pay. The pastor seeing what the man was getting at said well, some members believe to give a tenth of their earnings. TEN PERCENT?!? The wealthy man raged for all he could think of was his riches frittering away to this church!
What kind of giver does God want. A lot of people have argued for some time over this.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (KJV)
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Verse 6 soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly
As the child of a farmer and as I have lived on a farm most of my life. I know that you have what you put into a crop.
a. My grandfather put me on a tractor one time and told me to sow his hayfield with red clover. No problem, he filled the seeder with seed and set it to the proper settings; now the job was looking easier, then he took me to the field to sow told me he would be back. The only thing he didn’t think to tell me was that I was to stop sowing when I had covered the field!
Galatians 6:7-9 (KJV)
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
b. Reap bountifully. Many read this verse wrong! First we sow bountifully εὐλογία eu-lo-gee-a with blessings! Not harshly or worryingly but blessing and happily! To reap the blessings we much give blessings!
How your heart is when you give is as important as the check you write! More important!
c. Not grudgingly nor having to because of rules!
Verse 7 give what you decide in your heart not your head!
Not so much what our brain says but what our heart says!
Many times I have heard ministers making passionate pleas for their church needs to the people at offering time. I have even seen TV evangelists holding telethons begging for money, promising great riches if they just give!
This doesn’t include fund raisers for benefits or other emergencies sometimes we need to get a lot in a little time like for Haiti but we ought to give as God has prospered us!
Acts 20:35 (KJV)
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Verse 8-9 The needy and the poor cannot be forgotten
Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
The Lord will repay you for helping those ine need don’t worry if you are paid back!
The Lord will supply your needs don’t worry about having enough to make it after you give!
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.