The Spirit of Giving

Greetings,
Many of you have probably heard at least one message concerning "tithing" and "offerings". I've heard quite a few myself. I've also received mail from big ministries "soliciting" funds for their projects, their dad, etc...of course these were all very worthwhile projects. Sometimes people who instruct others regarding this subject can do so in such a way that it gets very close to manipulation. In some cases they actually cross the line. There are some ministers who are "gifted" fund raisers (the title they use to refer to their ministry).

While I don't want to talk ugly about any of God's kids, I must make a statement that may offend some. Manipulation, whether it is to get a bigger offering or drag someone to the altar, will NOT reap eternal dividends. It does NOT have the anointing and favor of the Living God upon it. Regardless of how well things seem to go, the eternal truth is sure - WHATEVER a person sows, THAT shall they reap.

Please read the following verses - allow the Spirit of God to open your understanding to the authentic Spirit of Giving. There is a kind of giving that gets the Lord involved; it isn't giving so God will pay my bills nor is it tithing because the Bible tells me to, though both examples are scriptural and should be considered as we walk with the Lord. It's a giving that goes beyond the point of obedience. Really, now, shouldn't we all, as believers in Jesus Christ, live a life of obedience to the Spirit and the Word? The kind of giving I'm referring to is found in Exodus 35 and 36 with a New Testament application found throughout the book of Ephesians and other places as well.

Exodus 35:5 - Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze;

Exodus 35:21,22 - Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who offered an offering of gold to the Lord.

Notice the phrase, "whose heart was stirred, and...whose spirit was willing". Their heart was lifted up to the Lord and their spirit "volunteered". There was no plea from Moses, just a statement from him saying "this is what the Lord commands". The people were touched by God to the point of going beyond obedience. Obedience would bring in the minimum - obedience alone will provide the least amount. If you and I are strictly "obedient", we will probably seek to do the minimum. Minimum Bible study, minimum ministry, minimum whatever. But the Spirit of Giving brought so much more - see verse 29:

The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.

There have been times I have taught the Word of God and received an offering because WE (our church) needed the finances. I was teaching more out of desperation than faith. "If I can just create my words just right, give out the promises of God just right, etc, then maybe God will turn some of the people loose with the finances I need". What if I would trust Him and just tell people the Word of God and believe that the Lord is involved in what HE is CREATING! The Spirit of Giving is released when the only thing that matters is being involved with what God is building. God will make sure His Kingdom, His dwelling place (tabernacle), His Revival, etc, will be built. He will not build it with funds or gifts that have been squeezed out of His people using unholy methods. The spirit of manipulation (telling a good story, crying at just the right time, showing a sad picture, etc) is NOT from the Spirit of God. But He will help people go beyond obedience to extreme blessing when they see it as something God desires to do.

In Exodus 36 Moses had to tell the people - "we've got enough". STOP GIVING! Oh, by the way, the thing they were giving for was the Tabernacle where the Glory of God would abide. God dwelt in their midst because they went beyond the minimum and gave into something beyond themselves. Ephesians 2 says we are a building that is being built (fitted and joined together) as a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. That's why the Lord says in several places for each person to use the gift they have for the building up of others. In other words, don't just do the minimum (as it fits your schedule and plans) - but GO ALL OUT UNTIL GOD SAYS STOP!

What if the Spirit of Giving was loosed in your area, my area? It would be like the Book of Acts, chapters 2-4. What if we wouldn't wait to hear how much was needed but we simply lived our life as if the Lord's work was really the only thing that mattered?

God is always receiving an offering - He is always commanding us to give - and He is prepared to release the Spirit of Giving upon people who will go beyond the minimum...

"You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:7,8 (NLT)

After the children of Israel "paid for" the tabernacle, they still had plenty to get by with for the next 40 years. Their next generation could experience the Glory of God and the miraculous provisions of God because they took giving to a level beyond obedience -

Isaiah 1:19 - "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land" Pastor Jan