SACRIFICIAL GIVING FROM A GENEROUS HEART - Part I
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luke 21:3
Giving is one of the most important act of worship from man (generic) to God. God has by LAW demanded of the people of the Old Testament to give 10% of their yield or income. We still give Tithes in the dispensation of the Grace of God but this time we give with LOVE. The folks of the Old Testament gave in obedience to the Law hence 10% of their yeild; nothing more, nothing less. Their giving was mechanical and more of a ritual. We on the other hand have God's example of Giving His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON as a ransome for our sins. God gave it ALL because He loved us. Grace is not a licence to walk in sin; it rather reminds you of God's undying LOVE and gives you the ability to GIVE towards Kingdom Business.
As a parent I don't only know Sacrificial Giving from the WORD OF GOD. I am a Living Testimony of it. We spend every pesewa or cent of our income on our children's education and wellbeing. Some parents give it ALL to the extent of selling their personal effects and or borrowing just to give their children a comparatively better future they felt they did not have. But at the end of it ALL they never have regrets whatsoever. The widow from the devine observation made by Jesus Christ gave what she had out of her poverty. She did not make her temporary state deter her from giving what she had. At the face value it was small compared to what the Pharisees gave. But considering the ability and wealth of the Pharisees she gave a Sacrificial Seed out of a Generous Heart willingly without grudge but with LOVE.
Paul in 2 Corinthians Chapters 8&9 talked about the Sacrificial Giving of the Macedonian Churches. They gave because they understood GRACE. For some of us we ONLY are grateful to God for His GRACE because He counted us not guilty to the extent that the sins we are yet to commit are forgiven before it occurs. How can one show appreciation to such an honour? Definitely it is not by jubilation in sin for Grace to abound. We give our Tithes and Offering premised on the principle of reciprocity. Although our giving CANNOT compensate or pay off the LOVE God bestowed on us whilst we were yet sinners, it demonstrates our FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST'S death and expresses our LOVE and understanding of the underlying principle of Christianity. We give more than 10% of our income not because we are stupid; LOVE for God is the motivation. We give offering at every opportunity because the LOVE of God is shared abroad in our hearts.
Most churches and Men of God hesitate to teach Sacrificial Giving because of the perception of plundering the congregants. It is rather a disservice not to teach the totality of the WORD OF GOD. I have noticed with special interest the responses to my post when I write on Giving. Most ardent readers just keep quite. Money is a no go area. When you preach giving you will lose audience. But I am not a motivational speaker. I am a man called and certified by God to dispense the Gospel according to Jesus Christ. God LOVED and He GAVE; CHRIST JESUS LOVED and He GAVE His very LIFE a ransome for our sins.What else do you want to do in response to this act of LOVE. I will repeat, your cash seeds are not wired to heaven as it is worthless there. But it is used to promote Kingdom Business. So if you did give as a partner to the Book, 'MEN OUGHT TO PRAY ALWAYS' your money helped to do a wider distribution to a wider reading public than what I could have done alone. God bless you for your partnership seed.
Bro Ritchie Edukwesi WOANYA
