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REFLECTION

“More blessed to recieve than to give?” is the theme for our reflection. Paul is not only a preacher and a teacher but also a fund mobilizer or fund raiser for missionary work. In 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Paul appeals to the Church of Corinth to raise funds to support the Church at Jerusalem which is considered as the Headquarters of the early Church. He informs the Corinthians as a sign of encouragement that, he uses their kindness or generosity as an example to encourage the Christians at Macedonia by boasting about them. (2 Corinthians 9:3)

Paul teaches the Church of Corinth a spiritual principle of giving which should guide their hearts as they give and this principle is:“…whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…” (2 Corinthians 9:6) Dear friends, Paul was not luring them to give neither was he limiting the act of giving to magic whereby whatever you throw in you get back a double. Jesus had already taught this principle when he said “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38). Beloved in the Lord, giving is a spiritual exercise done out of love for God and humanity and with faith. Anytime we give to support the Church and its missionary work, we have actually given to God directly. Again, anytime we help those who are in need we have also become God’s agent in meeting the needs of those who pray to Him for help. Through the spiritual exercise of giving we develop a Principal-Agent relationship with God, in that, anything we do for the Principal (God), He rewards us(agents) bountifully and also adds to our commission. There is nothing magical about giving, it is a Principal-Agent relationship and for this reason Proverbs 19:17 assures as that “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.” This is the reason Paul further admonishes us that “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

Having read all the above, I wish to share my personal testimony of the spiritual principle of giving espoused above, out of the meagre salary I recieve as a pastor, I do my best to support the needy congregants with the support of my wife and the result is always overwhelmingly awesome, I recieve gift and donations more than what I earn and the amazing aspect is that I never ask anyone for money. All I do is to remain faithful to my call and support those I can as I have purposed in my heart. Giving is not for the rich, it is for those who believe and are grateful to God for His grace and manifold blessings upon their lives. I see this principle come to fruition in the lives of my congregants who love giving generously. I witnessed the manifestation of the spiritual principle of giving and its blessings in the lives of my parents. It works, I am a beneficiary! Sometimes giving may be the key to our prosperity and not necessarily hours of fasting and prayer. God always listens to our prayers but how many Christians give generously in order to reap the spiritual blessings of giving? May the Lord open our eyes to the spiritual and golden principle of giving to enable us expand our coast of prosperity even as we support the Church and our needy and vulnerable brothers and sisters.

PRAYER

Almighty God, may we please You all the time by abounding in good works through the spiritual exercise and act of giving. Amen.