FREELY GIVE

“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.” Philippians 4:14-17.

Aha! So Paul also had problems with stingy people in the churches in his day! It is not only a problem with modern-day churches to have financial constraints because God’s people do not understand their duty. They had it too.

Hidden in this short paragraph are some valuable truths about money and our duty to God. Why do I call it duty? Doesn’t the word “duty” take the joy and pleasure out of giving? Not at all! Duty does not make our responsibilities to God into drudgery. It rather highlights what God expects of us as His children and where we fail when we do not realise what we owe Him. Duty has to do with function, not attitude.

As citizens of the kingdom of God, we have certain duties and responsibilities just as we have in our own country. God runs His economic system on principles which are clearly taught in Scripture. Unlike the world’s system, which is based on buying and selling and on investment and interest, God runs His on the principle of giving and receiving, and sowing and reaping.

Firstly, we need to get our thinking straight. Moses warned the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land to remember, when they began to prosper, that it was God who gave them the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18). We are stewards, not owners of our resources. Therefore, we have a duty to use them according to God’s instructions.

When we hoard our money and possessions, and fail to provide for the needs of others, we are breaking God’s covenant with us (Deuteronomy 8:18); stealing God’s resources (Malachi 3:8-10) and refusing to wear Jesus’ yoke.  He was generous because God is generous. We are obliged to wear His yoke in everything He taught and did, or we are disqualified from being His disciple (Matthew 16:24-26). His prescription for us is:

“…Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8.

Like the earthly system, we can accumulate wealth in the kingdom of God and secure it in a “heavenly” bank account. Jesus taught His disciples that what they gave away to others in need was deposited in their heavenly account where it was safe from corruption and loss (Matthew 6:19-21). What’s more, their heart would be where their money was deposited.

God’s way of providing for people is to keep the resources circulating. He works through people. Needs are met through giving and receiving. Hence Paul’s words to the Philippians: “…not one church shared in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only…” They were the only ones who understood how God works; not only giving but also receiving. Their needs would be met in the same way if they were willing to help others.

God’s intention is that everyone should have enough. By sharing instead of hoarding our resources, we make sure that there is equality instead of inequality in what God has provided for us to live on this planet. Greed and stinginess haves no place in God’s scheme of things. Stingy believers are a contradiction because God has set us free from the love of money so that we can share in His divine nature.

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need so that, in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written, ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.'” 2 Corinthians 8:13-15. 

Paul valued their understanding and obedience to the word of God even more than the actual gift they sent him because he knew that they would be the recipients of God’s provision and blessing. What a lovely attitude! He knew that when they gave to him, they would benefit as much as he did, and he rejoiced for their sake.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.