GIVING DON’T PEDDLE
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As leaders (actually as ministers and children of God, born again believers) we must keep our consciences clear. He or she must be sure to get any discrepancies straightened out. This is to say that if he or she finds his or herself in sin it must be confessed and repented of in order not to let sin disrupt ones connection (flow) with God.
Regarding money it so important that the minister of gospel not peddle God’s word. We must remember that Jesus became very angry (that is to say righteous indignation) with those who misused what God holds to be sacred. “He went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:45-46 KJV)
Whenever we are doing something for God we must in today’s vernacular “Keep it one hundred.” Truly the Christian life must be not that of just following rituals but it must become a lifestyle. You don’t put it on again and off again to appease those who you may be in contact with. It means being in close relationship with God ‘Twenty four and seven’ (every second, minute, hour, day, week, year, and so on.
God’s Word tells us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 1:1 NASB) The Word then goes on to say, “This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.” (1 John 1:2 NLT)
Remember that even Satan, as evil as he is (just how evil is incalculable) is able to disguise “Himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14 NLT) How much more are we who are God’s elect to be wise his schemes. Jesus tells us, “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Luke 10:16 NLT) Even mature Christians must stay on the ready. We should be like the people of Berea. “They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” (Acts 17:11 NLT) We must walk constantly with our Lord (Jesus) learning daily at his feet. We are to be ever learning.
Wikianswers.com shows that, “Jesus talked about money more than He did Heaven and Hell combined. Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God.” While ehow.com says that, “Financial matters are mentioned more often in the Bible than prayer, healing, and mercy.”
God carefully points out that, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Luke 12:34 NLT) We must distinguish between using our money and gifts (whatever God gives us, money, talents, etc.) for eternal purposes versus for worldly gain and recognition. (See also Luke 12:33)
Giving to God should not only be regularly practiced but He says, “No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 16:17 NIV) (Combined with vs. 16 God says, “Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.”) Let add that Paul, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit says, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.” (1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV) These Scriptures show that God not only intends for people to tithe (give ten percent of their incomes but also to give offerings to his work, for kingdom purposes, i.e. feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, taking care of orphans and widows, etc.)
In Malachi 3:6-12 (AMP) the Word of God says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, How shall we return? Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings. You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”
Boy, there’s a lot involved here. God tells the people that because of His mercy they are not destroyed. He says that they are to return to him. How? The answer is by giving their (our) tithes and offerings to Him as they had done in days gone by (really he wants their (our) hearts). This is the only place where God allows us to test him. He says that if we do He will bless us with so much in return that we will not be able to measure it. This comes in so many different ways, spiritually, physically, mentally. It could be protection from unseen dangers. It could be financially. It could be in the way of healing, etc. He even says that he will defeat the devil on our behalf.
So when ministers on TV or radio ask us to give to their ministries we should not automatically turn up our noses at them. Neither should we just out of guilt feel obligated to give to them either. Each man or woman must be carefully studied to make sure that they are truly ordained by God. God Himself warns us to, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 ESV) Whenever we choose to give to a particular ministry we should be led by the Holy Spirit and it must be based on the Word of God.
Let’s take a look at the encounter of the rich young ruler and Jesus. “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:16-21 AMP) The Scriptures further state that, “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:22-25 AMP)
What do you perceive here? First of all, please know that God does not need anybody’s money. Everything belongs to him (See Psalm 24:1). What was Jesus really after regarding the rich young ruler? The same thing God is after as it pertains to all of us. He wanted his heart (he also wants our hearts). You see, this man didn’t just have money but it had him. Remember that, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34 Luke 12:34 ESV) As stated above, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Years ago I used to imagine the eye of a sewing needle when meditating on the Scripture. But then I heard (possibly read) a brother explain it this way. When entering a city the “Eye of the needle,” actually that a camel loaded down with various goods would have to kneel in order to get through the gate. This was a very difficult task. This is the way it is with those love money and stuff more than God. Unless they change and give their hearts to Christ they will perish and spend eternity in hell. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24 ESV)
God in His sovereignty has chosen mankind to be His coworkers. Yes, this includes financial matters. He has chosen to give man dominion over all that he has created. Even souls being won into the Kingdom is based on what we do to win them. God realizes how significant money is to us and how we will be judged and blessed is largely associated with how we handle money. God has chosen money as the vehicle for getting the gospel around the world. He has put men and women in leadership roles to accomplish this plan. (See Joel 2:28, Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, etc.) In order for God’s plan to succeed, and it will, it will take willing hearts, those who are willing to give (of their money, time, and talent) to His great work of getting the gospel to every person throughout the world and giving them a chance to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
It is good to give to Godly ministries on TV and radio. He expects us to support the work of His Kingdom. My desire is for each of you who visit this site to be saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. This will enable you to see those who are true men and women of God. This way when you give to these ministries you can know that you are truly helping to fulfill God’s purpose throughout the world. I have been giving to God’s Kingdom for a long time and I know that He truly rewards us who are faithful. We don’t give just to get but we can expect God to bless us when we bless His work. We want first and foremost for his Kingdom to be established.
Jesus loves you, I love you, we love you, and God has awesome plans for you.