 |
Positive Words Newsletter#79/ 4th May 2004
----- http://www.peterwade.com/ -----
Check out our new spring decor at our Home Page. See the new
section of our site at http://seminars.peterwade.com.
He Loves My Cheerful Giving
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (II Corinthians 9:7-8 NKJV).
The word "heart" in verse 7 indicates the seat and center of the personal life, the mind. When you apply the principle of giving and receiving, you can miss the result if you apply it with a wrong attitude. What is the purpose behind your giving? This verse clearly states that when you give you should not do it reluctantly, or as other translations have it, not sorrowfully. "Don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give" (CEV). The Message Bible says, "That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting."
God said it, so it's important for us to sit up and take notice. It is not just the fact that an opportunity came last Sunday morning to put something in the offering plate, or during the week to give to someone in need, or to give your time to some cause. It's not just that, it is your attitude that motivated the act that counts. You could give $10,000 and miss out on the result if your attitude was one of reluctance or sorrow. Your attitude is important. I read of one church in Scotland where they placed the offering container right in front of the pulpit. The people would come out row by row, while the preacher stood there, and put their offering in the bowl. Would you stay seated? Would you put in only a small coin? That is giving under compulsion, of necessity. It is the wrong attitude to giving. In fact, they called it a "heave" offering, based on an Old Testament passage (Exodus 29:27). The attitude was, "Lord, I can't get out of this, so here it is."
Never give because you have to give. I believe a church should never take an offering because they need money. They could exist without your money. A church should make a time for the sacrament of giving because its task is to train people to operate God's principles. Your attitude when you give and your attitude between the point of giving and when you receive is very important to your lifestyle and witness.
So what attitude should you have? II Corinthians 9:7 says to not give reluctantly or under compulsion. On the positive side, it states that "God loves a cheerful giver" -- one who can smile as he gives, one who feels happy about what he is doing when he gives.
One writer has well said that you should be just as happy at the moment of giving as you are when you receive something. And we all are.happy when we receive something -- especially if it's something nice, or something we have always wanted. That is the same attitude you should have the moment that you give. The Greek word translated "cheerful" is a word the English language has borrowed – hilaros -- "God loves a hilarious giver." Now perhaps you did not hear anybody breaking up with laughter when the offering was taken last Sunday, so maybe that's why I have to share this truth. It did happen to me once. One morning in a church I pastored in Taperoo, South Australia, a man saw the impact of this verse and he laughed out loud as he gave. I've also been in churches where the congregation have clapped profusely at the announcement that an offering was going to be received.
"God loves a hilarious giver." So your attitude when you give is important. If you go around saying, "Okay, I'm going to give because Peter Wade says it's a principle, and I need the result, so..." What are you going to get? Nothing. I have met many Christians who tithed, that is, they gave a straight 10% of all their income to a local church all their lives, and were still poor by most standards. In spite of having given large amounts, there were few results. Why? There must be something wrong with their attitude. The scripture is still true. "Each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." If you want to enjoy God's financial plan, you must work on your attitude to to giving, the way you get into the flow of God's affluence.
How much then should we give? The New Testament principle of giving is this: "Each one... as he purposes in his heart..." It is not a question of "x" amount being needed for a certain project. It is not a case of little squares to tick for nice, convenient round sums. It is a fact that you decide in your heart the amount you give. This aligns with what Jesus said in Luke 6:38, "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you". It is the decision of your heart that counts -- a premeditated decision. Let me illustrate. I am conscious of a need in my life. How can I ensure that the flow of God's blessing, God's affluence, is running in my life? I need to remind myself what God has said in His Word and keep on giving. So I read the Word and decide what I'm going to give next. Whatever I decide, that is what I give. That is the amount. Now "God is able to make all grace abound to me, so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work", to personalize II Corinthians 9:8.
Does giving work? Certainly! It works when you get the right attitude to God's financial plan. If your attitude is, "All this is only a commercial for his ministry", then you are not going to prosper. But if your attitude is that it is one of God's principles that works every day of the week, and that every day is an opportunity to give of your time, talent, and treasure, then you must receive in abundance. Here in II Corinthians He says, "...in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (verse 8, NIV). That sounds like a good deal, don't you think?
I'm glad I'm in on that deal, I'm glad I've signed my name to it. The truth is that God is a giving God. He gave His only Son, He gave His creation, the sun gives its warmth, nature gives its goodness to us in vegetables and fruit, and so on. Everything around us speaks of a giving principle, of a giving consciousness. But what does humanity do? They grasp, and then wonder why there is so much poverty in the world today. God's promised result to following the principle of verse 7 is found in verse eight: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." -- Peter Wade
What You Are Saying
"Thank you so much for bringing God's positive, encouraging word to us. It helps me to stand rather than to fall. It helps me to see that God does indeed love me and want the best for me despite the cicumstances that are hitting me so hard at this time. May God bless you and your family abuntantly."
"We really enjoyed our visit!! Hi...Christian Greetings!! Introducing ourselves---just in case (smile). Visiting you was a blessing... we appreciate all you do for Him! Blessings to you and yours."
"God bless you, Peter and Vivien. Thanks for all you do!"
Insights From Every Chapter Of The Bible
G. Campbell Morgan was a well-known preacher and writer of over 60 books from the first half of the 20th century. In each issue of this newsletter he gives a comment from one verse in every chapter of the Bible. We continue with Paul's Roman letter.
"Wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil" (Romans 16:19).
This is one of Paul's last expressed wishes in this letter for the saints in Rome, that little company of souls delivered from the kingdom of Satan, who yet lived in a city where was his seat of authority. That city, like every great city in human history, was full of the deep things of Satan. Evil lures men by its subtlety, its mystery, its darkling depths. The seduction of it is very powerful -- men are desirous of knowing. Thousands of men, of real natural ability, have found destruction because, as they say, they desired to see life. What they saw was not life, but death.
For these children of God, Paul desired that in all these things they might remain simple. There are things in the underworld, the very knowledge of which pollutes the soul. It is better not to know. The children of God are admitted to the mystery of good, which is the mystery of godliness, the mystery of light, of purity, of beauty. In this realm he desired that they might be wise. By their relation with God in Christ men are admitted into this wonderful realm. Herein they see life, and share it, the more abundant life, the life eternal. In this world of the upper things the soul is purified, ennobled, glorified. Here it is better to know. Let all such as are in this fellowship follow on to know. Let them come to full knowledge. This is the true wisdom. Let it be sought earnestly and persistently.
|
| |
This email was launched into cyberspace to bless you. Our newsletter is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving it because you subscribed.
Subscription information...
To contact us or subscribe, go to our Home Page:
http://www.peterwade.com.
To unsubscribe, click on the special link at the bottom of your newsletter (copy and paste into your browser as one line).
(c)2004 Peter Wade
http://www.peterwade.com
http://www.inChristRadio.net
|
|
| |
"IN CHRIST" QUOTE FOR TODAY
