Gift Giving
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17, ESV
Our church has a three-year campaign for individuals to pledge towards the giving purpose that has been established by the church. All members have been encouraged to make a pledge towards this campaign, which we have. This past Sunday our Senior Associate Pastor shared with us that when you are giving a gift, you have to speak specifically on what that seed is being sown for.
She shared this example: When you give money above your tithes (ten percent of your income) to the church it is considered a gift to God. According to the word, the giving of money is like sowing seeds into the ground. Whatever we sow into the ground that is what we shall reap.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8, NIV).
She shared that when sowing a seed above your tithes, you should say what type of seed you are sowing. If you plant apple seeds you should expect apples. That encouraged us to put a word on the gift we were sowing.
Later in the week her words dropped back into my spirit. I had some special gift money that had been given to me. I was saving the money to purchase something special, but had no idea how special it would be. I heard the Lord say, “Why don’t you sow this money as a seed to me?” My first reaction was “God, isn't this my special money to do what I want? Why are you suggesting I sow it to the church?”
As the thought settled in my spirit I began to wonder: what could I buy that would bring more of a profit than sowing the seed to God? I could not think of anything that would bring greater results. Still focused on what our Senior Associate Pastor said, I shifted my question: what kind of seed would I sow? Wow! I got excited as I came up with lots of material ideas. Then the Holy Spirit began to speak.
“How about sowing seeds to have a greater understanding of the Holy Spirit, to increase in the level of your faith, to have a better bible study life, to have a more powerful prayer life that impacts this world?” Those exact words were spoken in my spirit. They were what I had been praying to God about. I became so excited that I ran to grab an envelope from the church. I put the money in it so that it would be ready to give on Sunday morning.
It is amazing to me how fleshy we can be. We have an almighty God who loves us unconditionally and gave His life for us. When He provides us with HIS stuff we act selfishly. God does not need anything we have but He is trying to get us to look outside ourselves and become more like Him. To fulfill His purpose we have to be more willing to give than to receive. The amazing thing about giving is you receive more than you could ever ask for. For the word says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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