There are 3 major questions we shall discuss when dealing with this issue of giving. These are why should we give, where should we give, how should we give. In this lesson let us deal with why we should give.
THE POWER OF A GIFT
The story of the Queen of Sheba in the book of 1Kings10 is a classic lesson in the power that is contained in a gift and why we should all be great givers. Let us use it to discuss the 3 questions we are dealing with concerning why we should give, where we should give, and how we should give.
1Kings10
1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her.
a) Because your giving determines your receiving
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Lk6:38
God has designed principles by which His kingdom operates. All these principles are only effective when operated in faith, righteousness and love. Giving is one such principle. Giving in faith and love is the way that God has ordained for us to partake of His abundance and His prosperity.
We were made in such a way that we cannot receive from God beyond our ability to give. God asks us to give so that we can also receive. As we discussed in the previous lesson, the same heart that gives is also the same heart that receives. Your capacity to give determines your capacity to receive.
We don’t give to God because we have to give or because He needs our money. We give to God because we need His abundance and prosperity. Giving is the key to receiving. It is stupid not to give!
13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
The Queen of Sheba did not come for Solomon’s wealth. She wanted his wisdom. However she carried him a big gift. This impressed Solomon so much that he gave her whatever she wanted plus a lot more wealth than she had given him. There was no way Solomon was going to let her out give him. He gave to her so much more than she had given to him.
When the Queen of Sheba gave to Solomon, she set herself up to receive from him. It would have been shameful for Solomon not to give her anything. It is the honor of a king to give to others. Great kings are always great givers and God is the King of Kings. He is the biggest giver of all. You cannot give to God and He doesn’t give to you. In fact God set us up to receive from Him by encouraging us to give to Him (to sow seed). He knows if we give we shall receive. This doesn’t mean however that our giving (sowing) MAKES God give to us. God has already given us everything we need in Jesus. But it’s all spiritual not physical.
“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.” Eph1:3 GW.
So He set up a law (principle) that enables us to manifest these blessings physically. He tells us to give. This is what Jesus told us;
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Lk6:38 NKJV
The Queen of Sheba brought Solomon a very big gift. She probably had an entourage of more than 100 camels. However when it was his turn to give, Solomon gave her of his royal bounty, his abundance. Her gift was limited to her prosperity, wealth and kingdom, His was unlimited, he was the wealthiest man in the world. Her abundance (bounty) was like a tea cup, his abundance (bounty) was like a large tank. There was no comparison. She probably went back with 10 times more than she came with. SHE WAS WEALTHIER AFTER SHE GAVE THAN BEFORE SHE GAVE.
God is not limited to our banks, our wallets, our parents, our bosses or even our country. His wealth is unlimited, and He gives us according to His bounty not ours. Paul said this to the Philippian Christians that had been supporting him and giving to him “But my God shall supply all your need ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Phil4:19.
As we give we receive grace to increase and prosper so that we can give more
b) How much you give determines how much you receive
10 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon
The Queen of Sheba brought a big gift and she got a big harvest. God does not determine how much we harvest, we do. If a farmer plants a few seeds they will harvest a little. If a farmer plants much they will harvest much. What would you think of a farmer who planted only 10 seeds on 10 acres of land? Do you think they would harvest bountifully? Of course not, you would think they are stupid!
And yet that is what many of us do. We give the smallest amount we can get by with and yet expect to receive very large harvests. We give pocket change but think we can receive life changing abundance. This is unrealistic. If you give 1% of your income, do not expect that you will receive an increase in your income worth 1000%. You simply don’t have the heart to receive such a big harvest if you give such a small percentage.
Remember the principle Jesus taught in Luke6:38, the measure you use to give is the measure you use to receive. Your capacity to give is your capacity to receive.
Regardless of what the preacher tells you or how much you confess the Word, if you are a small giver you will also be a small receiver. There is no way around this.
Listen to 2corinthians9:6 “Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has received God's blessings will receive a harvest of God's blessings in return.” GW
“My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.” NET.
God multiplies what you sow. If you sow little then that is all He has to multiply.
8 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. 9 As it is written: " He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
However you should note that in determining how much to give we are not talking about amounts but percentages.
The issue is not the amount of money you are giving. It is the percentage that matters. It is why He asked for a tithe in the Old Covenant. A tithe is 10%. He did not ask for a specific amount because we all have varying resources and finances.
Jesus demonstrated this one day when He taught in the temple;
Mark12
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
The rich people gave a lot of money. But it was very little compared to what they had. It was a small percentage. They had much more left. The poor widow on the other hand gave only two mites. But Jesus said she had given more than all of them. Why? Because those two mites were all that she had. She gave 100%. She gave everything.
It is not the amount that matters. It is the percentage.
c) Giving opens doors for us to receive the wisdom of God through the Word
The Queen of Sheba understood the principal of seed/gift. What she really wanted from Solomon was his wisdom. She wanted to hear the words that came from his mouth. Why then did she carry all those gifts to him?
“A gift opens doors for the one who gives it and brings him into the presence of great people.” Prov18:16.GW
She used the gifts to make room for her before Solomon. Solomon was a highly sought after man. She wasn’t the only one that wanted to see him. The bible says that kings from all over the world always came to see him. “So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.” 1King10:23-24.
How would she access him quickly? She carried him a big gift (seed). Giving opens for us a way to receive the Word of God. The people that preach and teach the Word are sustained by the people that give to them. If no one gave to preachers they would stop the ministry and go and get jobs or start businesses to sustain their families.
When we give, we help to provide for the needs of the people that give us the Word and wisdom of God so that they can concentrate on teaching the Word and so that they can continue to feed us with God’s wisdom. We shall discuss this more in the next question.
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