"Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. 2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. 3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie. 4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." Eccl 11:1-6 NIV
Giving is
a mystery! Giving is an act of grace, it is an act of kindness and a ministry
(2 Cor. 8:6 NLT). The Lord
admonishes us to excel in the act of giving just as we excel in faith, in
speech, in Knowledge, in love. 2 Cor 8:7. When you read this verse in The Living
Bible Version (TLB). It sounds like it is admonishing one to lead in giving, to
show example of one at the top in this ministry of giving. It is recorded thus.
“You
people there are leaders in so many ways-you have so much faith, so many good
preachers, so much learning, so much enthusiasm, so much love for us. Now I
want you to be leaders also in the spirit of cheerful giving.” 2 Cor 8:7TLB
From
Ecclesiastes 9 – 11:6 Solomon spoke on our ignorance of the future and he
closed his discussion with some practical advice about our activities in view
of such ignorance. In verse 2, 5-6 it is recorded that “you do not know” “you cannot
understand” However, he counseled that ignorance of the future should
lead not to inactivity or despair, but to diligent labour. Because we do not
know which of our ventures will succeed” This is indeed a mystery because we cannot really explain
how the act of giving-out will cause increase and keeping back lead to poverty.
Yet it does not call for our struggling to understand but as a people of faith
to embrace this mystery of the kingdom for our increase by faith. Please
understand that Circumstances are never going to be ideal in this life, but we
must go ahead and obey God and trust Him for the results. If you wait for the
right wind or the right day, you may miss your opportunity. You may seem to be
a fool, like someone who casts bread on moving water, but God will see to it
that it will come back to you.
To get a harvest, you employ the Mystery and principle of
giving/ sowing to the soil (2 Cor. 9:9-11). In the
scripture are records of the blessings that lies in the mystery of giving –
out. Some of the areas we can give – out unto our increase are as follows.
1. Giving freewill offering. Luke 6: 38.
The story of the widow’s offering in Mark 12:41-44 reveals that contrary
to what many think or say, even Jesus is interested in your giving. Not
necessarily the quantity but the quality. Next time you put your hand into the
offering bag, bowl or box, let it be that wrapped in your palm or packaged in
your envelopes is not just your seed that looks as though you are helping God,
the Church or the Pastor but it should be an expression of your worship. The
symbol of deep love and your victory over the love of Mammon.
2. Charity, giving to the Poor of needy
It is seen as and actually it is a mystery, that when you
give to the poor you lend to God. Proverbs 19:17. I cannot imagine what God
will use to pay you back for lending to him. Let me help you out, the bible
says it is a wonderful interest that you will receive. “When you help the poor, you are
lending to the Lord-and He pays wonderful interest on your loan!” TLB
3. Parental giving: (Giving to your parents
and giving to help/ establish family members). Unlocks this mystery and secures for you unspeakable
blessings. "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in
the land the Lord your God is
giving you.” Ex 20:12
Note that
your welfare on earth is connected or tied to the regard rather honour you give
your parents. And the longevity of your life is tied to that honour you accord
your parents. You want a long and quality life honour your parents even with
your resources, celebrate them. Abraham was equally blessed because he cared
very much for his relatives. See Genesis 14:14, 18:1-5. So next time you are
claiming Abraham’s blessings as yours. Remember this price of giving help/
establishing and celebrating your family members.
As a
church this is God’s desire for us that we should be like the churches in
Macedonia “Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in
his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested
by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with
abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that
they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of
their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of
sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we
had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us,
just as God wanted them to do.” 2 Cor 8:1-5
God
admonishes us to give thus. “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.” 2 Cor 9:6-7
When you
find it difficult to give as you are expected to, then verse 8 says “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.”
Don’t wait until you become a Dollar Billionaire before
you start tapping into this key of open doors to blessing. Make a move in
obedience to God and God “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. You will be made rich in every way so that you
can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result
in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the
needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to
God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise
God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ,
and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in
their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the
surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable
gift!” 2 Cor 9:10-15
This weak
I pray for you, receive the grace to enter into and practice the mystery of
increase through giving. May God supply you seeds and may your heart be willing
and obedient to sow them. As you give your freewill offerings, parental giving
and lend to God may you reap abundance in Jesus name – Amen. Happy New week –
Giving out and Increase. Shalom!
Rev’d. Canon Joel
C. Nwohiri
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