Overcoming the Spirit of Poverty: Giving

01 Oct Overcoming the Spirit of Poverty: Giving

Your giving is a major key to destroying the stronghold of poverty.

As you give of your time, talent and treasures to the Lord, you are offering sacrifices acceptable to the Lord. Our giving is part of our worship. There are different types of giving in the bible. There is the tithe, giving to the poor, giving for THE gospel etc.

Malachi 3:10-12

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.

The tithe is a declaration that God is your source, that He gave you the power to get wealth in the first place. You demonstrate your faith in His provision by bringing the tithe as the first fruit of your offering. Our confessions as we bring the tithe is to acknowledge Him as source and count that the devourer is rebuked for our sakes and the windows of heaven are opened over our lives.

Giving generally delivers us from selfishness, from dependence on the natural and then positions us to receive from God and His Kingdom power, as well as make us more like our Father who so loved that He gave.

When we receive spiritual blessings it is expected from the bible that we should give of material things in return. I believe one of the reasons for offerings at the close of services in church is to give people an opportunity to worship as a response to their receiving from the Lord through the ministry of the Word of God.

Apostle Paul talks about another type of giving when he says the Phillipians are partakers of grace with him as they got involved in giving and receiving. There is giving for the gospel as we partake of grace on the ones we are in partnership with.

Philippians 4:15-19

And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.

For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.

Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].

But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:5-7

[I thank my God] for your fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

It is right and appropriate for me to have this confidence and feel this way about you all, becauseyou have me in your heart and I hold you in my heart as partakers and sharers, one and all with me, of grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing). [This is true] both when I am shut up in prison and when I am out in the defense and confirmation of the good news (the Gospel).

Benefits of Giving

There are benefits when you give as unto the Lord, with the right motive. It delivers you from selfishness; breaks your dependence on the natural things you can see, touch and taste; it stirs the joy of giving as you see others enriched by your giving; and your capacity to receive from the Lord through others is enlarged. You also lay up treasures in heaven for the time to come. Giving positions you for more grace from God so you do more for His Kingdom and He can do more through you.

Your giving today enriches your future.

As we give in faith, we should expect God’s blessings in our lives. He is faithful to keep His Word of the covenant where provision is concerned. May the Lord bless you richly.

Amen

Rev. Kola Ewuosho