Giving/Sharing

Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 

We have some in the body of Christ who are specially called to serve God through their giving. Such people are very generous with money and give it in response to what the Holy Spirit instructs them at the time. 

Not all giving is pleasing to God or brings a return to the giver. Some giving falls on fertile ground. Fertile ground are those ministries actually winning souls and changing lives. It means those who are not doing such are not worthy of receiving gifts. It is time the true ministers be supported while those causing more harm than good should be deprived of resources and they close down. God won't bless your gift if it's down on hard ground. 

Giving shows that the giver believes in the ministry in question and wants them to continue doing what they are doing. A failure to give is the means one doesn't fully support the ministry in question and they don't want that ministry to continue doing what they were doing. It's worse when such people also don't contribute in other ways to the survival of the church through their skill or time. At least they can clean the church, carry the chairs, participate in worship team etc. 

Giving isn't the same. The rich believers are able to give much more than their poor counterparts. It's naive  to think that believers will give equal amounts. One man's giving can equal to what 100 poor people can give sometimes. So both the rich and the poor are very important in the church.

Secondly it is also naive to think that ministry can run without money. Successful ministries have a good flow of money and a well run administration of the same. The means by which the gospel is spread are very costly such as TV, radio, Live streaming etc and yet the gospel by itself is free. 

It's also important to note that giving benefits the giver more than the receivers of it.  The Bible says it's more blessed to give than to receive. On this note pastors shouldn't be afraid to ask believers to give because they that give are the beneficiaries. Believers too should rush to give when the opportunity arises because it's their way of being blessed. 100 times zero is zero. Therefore for God to bless someone, they have to first sow. 

God has designed it that way that the ministries are to be run on the finances of the generous believers otherwise He would have made the pastors so rich so that they sustain the ministries by themselves without the need of the believers giving. But nevertheless God is faithful to His word, most pastors since they are most times the biggest givers in their ministries get blessed a certain way and the world and the media is not happy about it. How can I be afraid of the blessings God has given? Infact if you are not embarrassed by the way God has blessed you then He is not truly your source. God is a good pay master compared to the employers of this world. Never forget this, man can never pay you for your true worth and value except God. 

Child of God, its exciting to be part of what God is doing through our giving. What a privilege that God has given us to do so! If it's your hearts desire not only to be blessed by the church but to become a blessing, you will live a fully satisfied life.

EK