We continue discussing on the principles of the Kingdom of God and we are our looking at the principle of giving. One thing with the principles is that their repercussions are very clear and specific; forgive and you shall be forgiven, love just as the Father has loved you and now give and it shall be given to you. God is the ultimate giver.
Giving will always open doors of blessings to the giver. This is because God is the provider to us all; the poor, the rich, the weak and the strong. God is always looking for people to carry on His good work here on earth. Isaiah 6:8(I heard the Lord’s voice ,saying, “Whom shall I send ,and who will go for us ?”then I said , “Here I am. Send me”).In this case Isaiah was being sent by God to be a prophet and God was asking him whom He would send to fill that position. God desires that we have life to the fullest and He will always try and find people to fill all areas to make His Kingdom complete. There are people to whom God has passed the mantle of giving. Cornelius was one of them. Acts 10:2-4 (He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and yours gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God”) The role of giving in the society will never go unnoticed before God. I pray that God will give me the grace of giving.
For a long time I thought that I would wait until I have access to more money but then I came across a verse in Deuteronomy 16:17(“Every man shall give as he is able, according to Yahweh your God’s blessing which He has given to you.”)Wow! What an eye opening I got here. We give as God has given to us and knowing very well that He has not given me much, He expects me to give the little in my possession. Giving in the Kingdom of God is a matter of accountability. Luke 16:11 (“If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches ?”)Clearly, there are true riches in the Kingdom of God and Cornelius tasted it, he received the Holy Spirit after Peter had come to his home.
The more we give the more we receive. 2nd Corinthians 9:6(“Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”) I love this bit. So straightforward. The wealth that God gives us is like water in a glass. You will only add more water when the glass is empty or half full. God will always fill our glass to the brim because He is the ultimate giver. He is the one who starts the giving sequence. The moment He gives us, He excepts us to be faithful and give back. Giving on our side will empty the cup to some point but then we have the Filler of the cup whose jar of water never runs out.2nd Corinthians 9:10(“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food ,supply and multiply your seed for sowing ,and increase the fruits of your righteousness ”)Once we let ourselves be used by God, we become like a glass which He uses to put His water(wealth) and it becomes God’s own responsibility to always fill the glass.As time goes by, God will desire a glass that can hold more water. In this case, He will give you the grace to be in possession of more and still hold an equal amount of accountability in giving as you did when you were a small glass. In the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30, The one who was accountable with his share was added more.
2nd Corinthians 8:7-15(“But as you excel in everything ………. see that you also excel in this grace of giving”) This is a part that we are not to leave out as we grow in other graces. I pray that God will help us to offer ourselves as vessels(glasses) that will hold His water that He desires to use to serve others. Shalom.
The Latter Grace 