The More You Give, The More God Gives

Please understand, I know that this sounds like a wrong doctrine. After all, we aren't supposed to give so we can get. Even so, God will bless our sacrificial giving but in ways we could never dream of.

Proverbs 19:17 (BBE) reads, "He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward."

We see the same principle in Luke 6:38 (BBE) which says, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, crushed down, full and running over, they will give to you. For in the same measure as you give, it will be given to you again."

Now some folks might think they'll get a lot of praise for drawing attention to how much they give. But Jesus warned in Matthew 6:1-4 (BBE) not to do that. "Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When then you give money to the poor, do not make a noise about it, as the false-hearted men do in the Synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, They have their reward. But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does: So that your giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward."

This is one reason I despise tithing. People become inordinately proud of their own accomplishment in giving ten percent of their income.

Such people should remember Ananias and Sapphira and how they tried to get praise for giving so much to the church. Peter said to them in Acts 5:3 and 4 (BBE), "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has the Evil One put it into your heart to be false to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While you had it, was it not your property? and after you had given it in exchange, was it not still in your power? how has this purpose come into your mind? you have been false, not to men, but to God." In short, both he and his wife died that day.

Churches also gave money to other congregations, as we read in Romans 15:26 (BBE), "For it has been the good pleasure of those of Macedonia and Achaia to send a certain amount of money for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem."

So we note that giving to the Lord's work brings benefits even in this world. How wonderful that we can help our poor Christian siblings when we are blessed of God.

On Saturday, I hope to post about a day when we'll be with the Lord, never to be parted again.