Dangerous giving? Apostle Paul encouraged giving to the needs of other saints. Jesus encouraged same. To be possessed by Calvarys love is to give whenever we are in position to do so. This doesnt refer to cash alone. Cloths, food items, even attention, solve other peoples problems. In 2 Cor. 8, Paul intimated the Corinthian church of the generosity of the churches of Macedonia, who gave with joy in spite of their affliction. They gave themselves to the Lord first, then their belongings to fellow saints. See verses 1-5. Too many give their possession to others without having given themselves to the Lord first. They give as of a formula for wealth, not as of love for Christ. Giving is all the same: motives are quite different. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be like the Macedonians. He showed them that Christ was rich but became poor for us to be rich. While preaching this in verses 11-14, he touched on having a willing heart and giving out of that which they have. Its improper for any shepherd to encourage any of my brethren to go borrow to give. Why do we push them to do dangerous giving while the Holy Ghost hasnt expressly said so? Youre teaching formula for blessing? If theres a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has and not according to what a man has not. 2Cor. 8:12-14. Dont we read? Not that others be eased while we are burdened, or the other way round. The apostles spoke of equality. When the preacher in a flowing gown, a reverberating voice from the hi tech microphone and a well arranged vocabularies speaks of how he gets six jeeps because he gives his only car as instructed by God, then everyone will start thronging him to give anything after he tells them to do so, expecting a miracle. Some even pledge what they dont have. Nobody tells somebody that God deals with us in different levels of faith and that the anointed daddy did that from an express instruction from the Holy Ghost. It is not a formula! Its not one size fits all! No! Some boy gave his daddys car key and got into trouble. Many pledge whats beyond their ability and suffer for it. Ive heard brethren say but people give testimonies, but I say that those who suffered for the naivety wont give testimonies. Theyd help pastor by not embarrassing him. I know brethren who were told to go borrow, refused to give out of annoyance when the pastor start to sweet tongue on the pulpit, grumbled because they were being taxed. Some will even borrow to pay tithe! Why? I must escape a curse. Ah! Curse?! In Christ Jesus? Its become so spiritually despicable among us that once a quota is raised and brethren start to pledge or give, eyes start to rove to see who wont give. Then to avoid being tagged poor, some brethren will pledge with a nollywood smile on their faces but with Nigerian lamentation in their hearts. This is getting awry! Give one, get two. Give two slaps, get four. Etc. Is the church Las Vegas? Is God a vending machine? God loves a cheerful giver. Please give out of love, not out of fear of being embarrassed by the brethren. Preaching Dangerous giving could be dangerous to some. Offering time isnt blessing time. Saints are blessed all the time. We gentiles have already received the blessing of Abraham. Read Galatians. Blessing isnt money. Money isnt blessing, or else owners of drug cartels are blessed. Money could just be a fragment of blessing to the saint.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:24:25 +0000
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