Have you ever sat in a church during the offering and felt “less than” because you were already wondering if you had enough gas money until the next paycheck? I have good news…
How many times have we Christians been asked to give, to partner with, the gospel? How many of those times were when we would have if we could, but we didn’t have money (or at least heard the voice of logic in our mind that says we shouldn’t give)?
Hang with me. I’m asking for a reason. Second Corinthians Chapters 8 and 9 talk about giving financially. There are promises for those who give, and God is faithful in all things! So I spent years wishing I could give (I was a single mom in a one-income family) more than a tithe. But, I was faithful to tithe, and I always, then and now, make my offerings the first thing that comes out of my account.
Choosing to do my tithe and offerings first does a couple things for me. One is me saying, “Father, I will put You first in all things. ” Another benefit to me doing it that way is there’s no opportunity for the enemy to attack my mind with “You really don’t have the money to spare this week.” Once you partner with God in giving, the enemy rubs his hands together and pokes around in your head.
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 8, we find a gem hidden in Paul’s discussion of giving. In verse 8, Paul says he is not speaking by commandment but is testing the Corinthians’ love by the diligence of other congregations. Paul then reminds them that Christ gave up all His wealth so His people could become rich through His poverty. No, that is not merely spiritual wealth. Remember those wise men who brought gifts to Him when He was a toddler? The value of those gifts assured Jesus was never without abundant financial resources.
In verse 12 of that chapter, Paul says, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.”
This is such great news! God is not into condemning folks for not being able to give. If God sees that our heart is willing, He will then (if we ask) provide for us in the future to give what our heart desires. What a beautiful revelation of God’s provision. In verses 10 and 11, Paul says to them that once God provides what we wanted to give, we should follow through on our earlier desires and give.
What happens when we begin to give or sow (like a seed) finances to God’s purpose and plan to accomplish His will on earth? Paul answers that in Chapter 9 of the same book as he prays for those who give. Remember, it started with a want-to heart, and God supplied as we asked. THEN, the promise is found in the prayer.
Verse 10 and 11 of chapter 9, “Now, may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.”
What is the answer, then? God looks on the sincere heart, even when the resources aren’t there, and provides some seed to sow so that when we give that seed, He multiplies it back so that we have a harvest. As we continue to sow seed, just like any good farmer will tell you, the harvest is determined when we plant.
God increases our ability to sow as our heart grows in the grace of financial giving. As Mark Hankins says, “If you become addicted to giving, God will support your habit.”
Jesus said it this way in Luke 6:38 .Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. With the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Sowing starts in the heart. God sees and supplies. The seed comes, and the harvest will always be greater than the number of seeds sown.
If there’s a desire to give, God will honor that.
For His Glory 