Where Stewardship Begins

Giving has become all but taboo among Church membership who struggle to see the advantage when they are struggling to maintain. After hearing the announcements for the month must will just add them to their to-do list as something else being asked of them. It has become a running joke and standing criticism among those in and outside the church. Faithful giver who are viewed as pushovers are almost always the ones belling others out of their financial tragedies.

Giving has been weaponize in the church and among God’s people. Sadly it is the tell-tell sign of approval or disapproval, acceptance or rejection rather the evidence of our faith in God as soul provider. Many years ago, Eve and learned that you cannot beat God’s giving. We learned that you reap what you sow. We have experienced both concepts of the Melechai you read each Sunday morning just before you give.

Some years ago, as we where coming into the knowledge of trusting God. So one evening when we were down to out last, and not at all sure how we were going to make our ends meet, we trusted God and came on to the church. Being caught up in the joy of having come into his presence with thanks giving, we pulled into a service station off of 45 only to find that my brother in-law was the manager. I understand that it can be viewed in make different way, but all I saw is that God had provided because we elected to honor him. It has been our testimonies that God supplies. We had experienced that opposite when I decided that I thought the amount of our tax return was going to be too much to tight from. So God reduced it do to something I was more comfortable with. So, If nickel and dim giving is what we are comfortable with so be it.

What is giving? It is connection on purpose with expectation of impacting or producing a given outcome. What does a parent give when they give to a child?

In text today, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to make good on their giving as promised. He finds it necessary to encourage them because that had not to this point done what they committed to do although they knew the reality of the need. This was not to say that they were selfish and bitter or anything negative just that they did not see it as a priority because they were not immediately affected by the lacking that their giving would most certainly address. It was not a new need, it came as no surprise to them. They just lost sight of it because it was not pressingly before them.

God had the perfect example in the Churches in Macedonia. These churches were financially deprived from war and heavy taxation from the Rome Government. These were places like where there were not sufficient resource to have an official synagogue so people like Lydia worshiped at the water front.

It was not a new need, it came as no surprise to them. They just lost sight of it because it was not pressingly before them.

They were examples then and there are still today.

They gave in the right order starting with giving themselves to the Lord and then to the people of God and the church.

This was not their intellect but their yielding to a converted heart and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

To give into something or someone that must first be a call or opportunity, in this case it was the good new present them by the apostles.

The knowledge of what one is delivered from is cause to give thanks, but when the Spirit opens the eyes and regulated the mind, he causes one to see things differently. What was of the utmost importance has taking back seat to the things of God. They saw God at work and became consumed with the work and will of God. They wanted to be the hands of God testifying of his love in giving to change the conditions of intentional depravity.

If the lack of giving is intended to show displeasure or disregard for the business and people of God, then surely those who have fist giving themselves to God will act boldly.

God will provide. I will share with you that some many years ago when the some significant contribute to the church decided to express their rebellion in their giving,. I was approached by one saying that were about bottomed out now what are you going to do. My mine went back to a time when we were evangelizing this community and Pastor Carter and I went together to talk to a gentle man across the way. During the conversation he must have mention something about the financial welfare of the church to which pastor carter replied it is the Lord church and the Lord will take care of his church. I quickly replied , this is the lords church and the Lord will take care of his church. During that time we had diversity within our church and one lady decided that she would tight at our church of a total of 1300 dollars. IT blow the nay-Sayers away because they had discussed it among themselves. One of them said to me, we should write them a thank you letter, because of how much she gave. I told him that this was not about the amount but it was why. she did not need nor require our recognition, because she was worshiping in her giving.

They gave with the right heart, it was willing giving joyous giving, intentional giving. They were privileged to the same information as those in Corinthians, and begged for the opportunity to give. They begged because Paul knew the financial hardship they suffered and so did not require much from them. They persisted in giving. People will do what every they want to do, and can be as lavish as they want to be on what they want to or with what they want to.

They gave for the right reason because it was God’s will!