Ephesians 4:28: He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those who have needs.
Last week I shared from this verse about God's perspective of work. This week I want to share about God's perspective on giving. Why does God instruct us to give? I want to share two reasons for giving.
First of all, God is a giver, and the Word of God instructs us to be like God. Look at the following Scripture references.
Ephesians 5:1. Be imitators of God.
Luke 6:36. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Matthew 5:48. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I Peter 1:16. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Jesus said to be merciful, even as your Father in heaven is merciful. He also said to be perfect or mature, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Paul said to imitate God. The children of God should make every effort to act like their Father in heaven. Just as children in this life imitate the words and the actions of their parents, so the children of God should imitate the words and actions of their heavenly Father. The apostle Peter said to be holy, just as God who called us is holy.
The testimony of the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation is that God is a God of love who gives and gives and gives. We are saved by the gift of his grace. Jesus said, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Jesus also said as recorded in Matthew 7:11, If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.
Almighy God is our creator, our redeemer, our sustainer. In him we live and move and have our being. He is the most successful person ever. He is omnipotent, and he is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. It is obvious that we should all want to be just like him. Therefore, we must learn to walk in a lifestyle of giving because that is what God does. He gives.
The second reason for giving is that the principle of seedtime and harvest is ingrained in every fabric of life in both the natural and spiritual realms. Genesis 8:22 states, As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.
In this life you do reap what you sow. Paul said, Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Note in verse nine that Paul exhorts those who are faithful to sow, but have not yet seen the fullness of the harvest. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
This principle is prevalent in every facet of life. If you want friends, then you must be friendly. You can choose to speak words, or sow seeds, of life or of death. You will reap according to the words that you speak. Speak forgiveness, and you will reap forgiveness. Speak a gentle word and it will turn away anger. Speak a harsh word and it will stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) Show mercy, and you will reap mercy. Withhold mercy, and you will be judged with no mercy. (James 2:13)
So, the principle of seedtime and harvest also works in the financial realm. This principle is stated clearly in II Corinthians 9:6-10. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has scatttered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righeousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
In this passage Paul makes the following points.
1. He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly.
2. He who sows generously will reap generously.
3. God loves a cheerful giver. You should never give under compulsion or pressure. You should always give as you have purposed in your heart.
4. God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that your needs are fully supplied, and you will have resources to give to every good work.
5. God supplies seed to the sower, and he supplies bread to eat.
6. God will supply and increase your store of seed.
7. God will enlarge your harvest of righteousness.
Paul instructed the thief to stop stealing and to begin working. He also instructed the thief to begin giving. Notice that God supplies seed to sow and bread to eat. Your job supplies for your material needs, but it also supplies seed for you to sow. As you begin to sow, then you will begin to reap. And then you will have more to sow, and you will begin to reap even more. It is a never ending cycle of blessing and increase. You will have more and more to sow, and you will have more than enough to meet your every material need.
God's plan is so much higher. The thief takes what belongs to another. But when you work, you honor God by providing for your own needs by honest labor. And as you begin to help meet the needs of others, then God will provide a harvest of additional seed to sow and additional bread to eat.
Honor God with your work, and honor God by giving to help meet the needs of others.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org