THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING
WRITTEN BY PRINCESS K
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THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING – PART 1
Often, as we drive in the car, walk in the mall and eat at a restaurant, I look around me, wondering what is happening in the lives of the people around me. Almost every day I hear of the challenges that people are facing, from identity and health issues, to challenges in marriages, families, finances and many more. It is not just hearing about it so often, but also the fact that it is on the increase. There are so many people who are ready to give up. They are tired and simply don’t feel like “fighting” anymore. Knowing all this, I reflect on my own life regularly. I realise that I am so blessed and happy. I have Jesus as my Saviour, a loving husband and family, good health, secure job and a lovely home. I can buy not only what I need but also when I want something for myself. I have wonderful friends and I feel loved. Yes, like everyone else, I also have severe challenges. However, IN CHRIST I ALWAYS OVERCOME them.
I realise that if so many people are hurting, then the need to be helped is extremely great. The question then is, where do people turn to for help? It really depends on the person and the challenge. Some turn to God, pastors, friends, family, colleagues, religious practices, exercise, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and others turn to alcohol, drugs and sex. There are so many different options on where to turn to for help but not all are successful, beneficial or from God. Many people after trying various options, find themselves back in the situation, still unresolved.
I believe that every method that is from God, is at some point in time, beneficial. For example, if I am not feeling well, I will rest my body and if it continues, I will consult a medical professional. Nothing wrong with going to a doctor or visiting a psychologist for example, because God put them there to help us. However, for me, we should not be dependent on them, as our dependence should not be on the method of choice, but on God alone. For me, it all starts with God. In my life, I choose to go to God first and place my dependence 100% in Him. He is my God and He created me in His image (Gen 1:27). He knows me inside out (Ps 139) and I can hide nothing from Him. I first pray and ask Him for help and guidance in the way I should go. Truth be told, He helps me every single time. He has never, ever failed me.
The truth is that God says in Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Therefore, we can disagree and argue about it as much as we like, it will not change the truth that God alone can help us. So, if God is our main source of help, why do people renounce Him and first try to find their answers and solutions in other methods? Speaking to many, they say that they at some point believed in God but because of previous bad experiences, in that a love one was taken from them or prayers have not been answered according to what they wanted, they turned on God, saying He did not care, is not a God of love and do not answer prayers. Yes, there has been times when I prayed and asked for help and deliverance, like when my mom suffered because of a cancer attack on her body and after she had a stroke.
I saw it as a huge “mountain” in front of me and I just wanted God to take it away as He says He will in Matthew 21:21 – 22. However, He did not and I realised that the only way for me to get rid of that “mountain”, was to climb it. Does that mean God did not answer me? No, it means that He had planned something else for His greater purpose. That point in time, I had the choice to see it as if He does not exist or ignored my request, I mean is He then not a loving God? However, I had to accept and trust His will for the greater plan I did not see. Hence, I climbed the “mountain”.
It was not easy and left me in tears, frustration, full of bruises, sores and sore muscles. I did reach the top and the view was spectacular. I still did not understand, but the journey brought me to a place of trust and peace in God’s plan, whether I had visibility of the outcome or not. The things I had to go through made me stronger and I now approach similar challenges, completely differently. Have I just given up, or blamed God, I would not be as strong as I am today. Thank You, Jesus!
The above encouraged me to write an article about the principle of giving. I realised that we, who are already in Christ, can’t be selfish and need to give something of ourselves to help those who is forever searching for peace and solutions. Yes, we are going through challenges every single day for as long as we are in Christ, satan will not rest in attacking us. However, we have successfully climbed many “mountains” and have seen many spectacular results. Give to others, by sharing those experiences with them; and not only the good but also the difficulties that took you up the “mountains” to see the spectacular views once you reached the top. There is power in testimonies, because it is real life situations, which others are facing as well.
If you are reading this article and you feel inadequate, even as a child of God, then you are busy climbing a “mountain” right now. Don’t give up. Keep climbing and trust in God. He will guide you through this and you will walk away victoriously. Do you know what? When you look back on the first part you have already climbed, use that to already encourage others, guiding them and giving them advice on the path they should follow when climbing their “mountains”.
Perhaps you did give your life to Jesus, but you moved away because you have blamed God so many times for so many things, finding yourself grabbing to every possible solution, other than God. Perhaps you are not in Christ at all. Know this today, God loves you. Jesus Christ loves you and died for you. Right now, you are also climbing a “mountain”. Don’t keep slipping, ending up at the bottom every single time. Start by changing your focus from the mountain, to Christ. He wants to help you. He does have all the answers to your questions, but you must trust Him to reveal them to you according to His plan and will.
He wants you to trust Him because He is God and not because of what He does or does not do. The choice is yours. If you want to make right with God, pray and ask His forgiveness and be free in Him (1 John 1:9, Rom 8:1). If you have never accepted Jesus as your Personal Saviour, you only need to make the choice by praying (click here to accept Jesus into your life) and asking Him to come and live in your heart. Also, make sure to study God’s Word, the Bible, as it is your weapon against the enemy. Pray and seek God continuously and join in with other Christians in fellowship and prayer. You can also visit www.jesustomyrescue.com for motivation.
People need help and therefore need Christ. When we understand, and exercise the principle of giving from a place where we have been and overcame, there are no more limitations to what God can do in and through our lives in helping those in need.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING – Part 2 – ONE DAY AT A TIME
Often when we are climbing “mountains” we find that we keep slipping. When we keep slipping, we many times get despondent because of no or slow progress. This in turn tends to make us feel that we are ready to give up and therefore in no position to give advice to others. With that said, perhaps you are in a career and are trying your best to be appointed in a higher/different position, or perhaps you have been praying for your marriage, even more than 5 years, and it seems like nothing is ever going to change. It might be that the relationship with your children was damaged many years ago, and no matter how hard you try, complete restoration is not taking place. Perhaps you are the one in the company whose promotion always seems to be overlooked, yet you are the one working late into the evening, ensuring administrative processes run smoothly. It might be that you are facing the greatest financial challenge of your life and no matter how hard you try, every project fails. Maybe your health is under attack of the enemy and even though you are praying and trusting God, there seems to be no hope. You might be tired, stuck in difficult situations and it feels like no matter what you do, you keep slipping, going nowhere.
You might be reading this right now, thinking that you simply have no more strength left to go on and that you are ready to give up. Today, I want to share the following experience with you. As I was writing this article and came to the end of the previous paragraph, my attention was drawn away from the screen and ultimately outside to the railing on our doorstep. Right there, in front of me was a big eagle. I was so amazed, for we live in a residential area and I have never seen an eagle here. It must have seen me, because it then made the call of an eagle and flew away. I was so excited and I knew that God sent that eagle to me, for the scripture He gave me thereafter, is from Isaiah 40:31: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Dear reader, more clearly God could not speak to us today. He wants us to keep our faith and hope in Him, no matter how tough the challenges. If we take a minute and think about it, God already prepared us for the difficulties that we must face. He said:
- Matthew 10:16 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
- John 16:3 – “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Joshua 1:5 – “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”
- Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Romans 8:37 – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
- Philippians 4:13 – “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
God knows it is not easy and that is why He sent Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) so that we don’t have to face any of these challenges alone. Once we accepted Jesus as our Personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. Speak to Him, ask Him to help you and He will:
- Jeremiah 29:11 – 14 – “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.”
- Exodus 14:14 – “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
- 1 Pet 5:10 – “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Dear reader, I know it is difficult and hard, but don’t give up. If you give up, it is one person less that can stand up for Christ. Remember, you can bring others into a relationship with Jesus, saving them from eternal loss. I want to encourage you today, continue to give yourself to the work God has intended for you, by taking it one day at a time. Yesterday has gone, tomorrow must still come but you have today to make and be a difference. You are not alone and Jesus Christ will help you, for no word spoken by God in all the scriptures will return to Him empty (Isa 55:11).
The night is at its darkest just before sunrise. Trust Jesus! Don’t give up when things look like it is not going to change, for it is then when the breakthrough is near. You can do it! Take it one day at a time.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING – Part 3 – PERFECTED LOVE
Today I would like to talk about perfected love. 1 Corinthians (Cor) 13:1 – 13 says:
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
When I read the above scripture, I realise that with life already filled with so many challenges, it is not easy to keep faith. Our faith is daily tested, pushed to limits which we never thought existed. Yet, when we persevere (Rom 5:3 – 5) and stand steadfast in faith during a test period, the end is always victorious. That experience becomes another tick in our box to share with others, as it becomes our life stories to our loved ones and friends. With the above said, we know that faith is not easy. We must believe that we received it from God and then exercise it, without doubt. God says in 1 Cor 13 that if we have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, we are nothing. For me, it says that to move mountains in faith is what God has intended for us to do. However, we often fail at this and therefore we continuously try to work at increasing our faith. I don’t necessarily think it is about increasing our faith because God has given us the full portion already, when He blessed us after we gave our hearts to Jesus. For me, it is about exercising our faith, without doubt. So, if God says that although we have the faith to move mountains but have not love, we have nothing; then what does it tell us about love?
With the above said and further reference to 1 Cor 13, it is from a Christian perspective something very big to be able to not just realise you have faith to move mountains but to exercise it. The same with being able to speak in tongues, prophecy and to fathom all mysteries and all knowledge. All of this is such a blessing to be able to exercise and yet God says that even if we have all of that but not love, we have nothing. We might have all the right and perfect “qualifications” as listed above to work for God, but that does not mean we take it to the next level. He goes on to say in 1 Cor 13 that even if we take it to the next level, by giving all we possess to the poor and giving over our bodies to hardship but still have not love, we still gain nothing. Once again, what does that tell us about love?
At the end of 1 Cor 13, God tells us that there are three things: faith, hope and love. He is very clear that the greatest of these is love. For me, when I read 1 Cor 13 again, for the first time it stood out for me that it was not just about a love chapter to read at a wedding and it was not just about loving our neighbor. Yes, all of that is true, but the Holy Spirit also revealed to me, that love is not just the greatest, but also the hardest to execute. God says it clearly because He says that although we do all the other great things as listed in 1 Cor 13, and we do not have love, we have and gain nothing. Therefore, if we, who are in Christ, are having difficulty to exercise all the other gifts to the level God intended us to do, how much more difficult is it not, to love?
Dear reader, what is amazing, is that God is not asking of us to do something He does not know or understand. Jesus Christ Himself, experienced the ultimate test of love. He exercised all the other things God gave Him, for He is Lord and nothing was and nothing is impossible for Him. He healed people, spoke words of wisdom and prophesied of what is to come, without any doubt or hesitation. Then came the ultimate test of love when Jesus Christ had to go all the way. He was falsely accused, slandered, beaten, flogged, humiliated and ultimately crucified, as if he was a murderer. Jesus knows why God said that love is the most excellent way, the greatest of all. He knows also that it is not easy, for whilst He had to see through the ultimate act of love, He also felt alone and asked His Father why He had forsaken Him. God did not answer and we might ask why? Jesus already knew the plan. He knew it was going to cost His life, yet all the sins of mankind upon Him on the cross was severe and He called out to His Father. His Father did not answer Him for Jesus had to go all the way to overcome death and therefore satan, so that we can have eternal life through Him. Jesus says in Revelation 1:18: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Jesus perfected love and therefore He is perfect love.
When we talk about love, there are different kinds of love. There is a love for God, love between family members, love for your country, love for your children, love between a husband and wife, love for a friend etc. Normally, it is not difficult to exercise love when it is something or someone special and close to you. Yes, like everyone else, even people who love each other, we all go through difficult times and then, for obvious reasons, it might be more difficult to show love. However, 1 Cor 13 tells us that it is not easy to love. It also tells us that love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it does not delight in evil and it keeps no record of wrongs. I don’t know about you, but for me, it is not always easy to avoid these things when I have emotions of disappointment or trust in someone. That is why God says that even if we can do great things, but have not love, we have nothing. Therefore, on our own we can’t do it.
How then, do we exercise love, not only to the ones we love, but to our enemies? There is only one way and that is Jesus Christ. Jesus is perfect love and without Him, we can’t exercise the love spoken of in 1 Cor 13, which says that love is patient and kind, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and never fails. We also need to remember that when Jesus exercised true love on the cross, He held nothing back and put us before Himself. It hurt, it was hard and yet He did it. What I am trying to say is that perfect love does not always mean sunshine and roses. Often it goes with pain.
For example, when a parent need to reprimand a child who continuously disobeys, it might involve some form of punishment which is not pleasant for the one who receives it and neither for the one who gives it. When someone steals from the office, you can investigate and give a warning but if it persists, you must start the termination process even though you know that the person has a family to support. Then, there might be the person who has done you wrong so many times. To love such a person is not easy but with the love of God you can forgive, heal and forget. You might say, never! Well, in your own strength you might not get it right, but with the perfect love of Christ, you can forgive, heal and forget. The memories, although not fond, can then be used for testimonies to help others.
Dear reader, we know from the above and 1 Cor 13, that to love is not easy. Let us not try to do this on our own, for we will fail and be disappointed. Let the love we give to others be Jesus Christ, ultimate and perfect love.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING – Part 4 – ABUNDANT PROSPERITY
Writing this article, I am taken back to around the year 2000, when our lives as a family drastically changed for the good. The Holy Spirit led us to a new congregation in the Assemblies of God and that is where my husband, within 2 weeks of attendance, gave his heart to Jesus. It is also the same church where we were baptized in water as a couple and where we were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Many things in our hearts and lives changed from there onwards, with Jesus Christ as our family’s foundation. Praise God!
For some time before we started visiting the new congregation, the Holy Spirit was pressing on my heart regarding our tithes and offerings. We never applied Malachi 3 on giving a tenth of our income, time or service to the Lord. However, we started giving more every month and became more involved with church activities. The pressing need to give more from a financial perspective increased and we ended up giving more than double what we normally gave. It was clear that God was calling us to be obedient to His Word. Moving to the new congregation, we realised that for the first time in our lives, no one came to the house to collect money, no debit order and no one preaching from the pulpit on how much we needed to give. They only from time to time announced that the books were available if anyone wanted to view the financial status of the church. I was confused at first, for looking at the church it was so blessed with good attendance of both young and old, good Bible studies, well attended cell groups and most importantly moving in the Holy Spirit. The church and grounds were well kept and people gave their lives to Jesus, was anointed, blessed, healed, set free and loved. We were moving and functioning as a unity in Christ. I wanted to know more on how this was possible.
I started speaking and praying with brothers and sisters in Christ, who was in the same church. I went deeper into God’s Word and I started highlighting the passages where God says that when we are His children, we will never lack anything. I remember, sitting on the carpet one evening and when we completed the budget we only had a few Rand (South African currency) spare, barely enough for a restaurant meal. That day, the presence of the Holy Spirit was overwhelming and we decided to read Malachi 3:6 – 12 again:
““I the Lord do not change. So, you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from My decrees and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing You?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.“
There we were in front of God, Him speaking directly to us and we decided right there and then that if God says we must test Him to keep His Word, then we will. I was so nervous, not sure why, because God Himself spoke to us. Looking at our budget that was already completed with hardly anything to spare, we realised that if we first deducted a tenth from our earnings and then do the rest of our budget with debit orders and account payments, then we will be in the minus. However, God said clearly to test Him and I started to redo the budget, with the tenth first deducted. Getting to the end of the budget there was more than double the amount left over than in the first budget. Doubting, I said to my husband that I must have made a mistake in either the first of second budget. I redid both and the results were the same. That night in our bedroom, we sat on the carpet together and cried before God. We literally saw how God increased our money in our budget, with the same amount of income. Can I explain it? Yes, I can! It is all God, being true to His Word! Then, I knew that the church was prospering because they were applying Malachi 3:6 – 12 in their lives. People saw for themselves how God is true to His Word and therefore they gave with their hearts and not because of pressure.
Dear reader, since that day, we never did not tithe. As we continued to give, we were blessed, never lacking anything. Yes, difficult times and days of wondering how we will get through a month, but never lacking anything. As we grew in our relationship with Christ and in the Word of God, we were continuously guided by the Holy Spirit. Not knowing how to work out a tenth, we used to work it out from the netto amount we were due to receive every month and then only deducting our taxes. Years later, I clearly heard God speaking to my heart again and we felt led by the Holy Spirit to give a tenth of our bruto income, in other words the amount we earn every month, prior to any deductions. We again realised that the amount would impact our budget but we also trusted God as He already showed to be true to His promises. For a few months, it was hard and included some personal sacrifices. However, without even realizing it, month after month our savings increased.
As the years progressed, God spoke to us in many ways, setting us free. He said that I no longer should be doing the budget by myself and then discuss it with my husband for approval. As the head of our house, he should be doing the budget with me. Hence, from that day on, we do the budget together and I consult financial decisions with him first. We attempt to always act by prayer and on how the Holy Spirit directs us. Some time later, added to this growth of freedom, we were clearly instructed by God to close all clothing accounts and to trust Him. One bonus month, we did exactly that, paying off all accounts and closed them. In the beginning, it seemed that we had less money, yet we should have had more as the installment money no longer had to be paid. We did not understand, but we trusted God and once again a few months later we were buying at any shop we wanted to buy, paying in cash. Adding to the above, was God telling us to shop groceries no longer using a calculator. We knew how much to budget for groceries but at first it was hard, for I used to work to an exact amount, adding prices up as we loaded the trolley. However, God spoke and although a little nervous, we were obedient. It has been years now and we simply shop groceries without a calculator. God provides for us every month, treats included.
Now, years later, we are at a point in our lives where we only listen to God’s direction on giving our tenth, offerings and blessings to those in need. This includes not just money but also our time and service. The more we give, the more we see His blessings in our lives, living in His Abundant Prosperity, free from this world and its economy. He alone is our God and our Provider. Do we experience financial challenges? Yes, off course we do. If we love, worship and trust God, satan will not stop in his schemes to attack and try to break us. If you are sold out for Christ, know this today; you are blessed abundantly and satan has no right to your inheritance. He knows that and therefore he tries his best to make life as miserable and difficult as possible for you. However, he is a defeated foe and you have the victory in Christ. The success lies in standing firm on God’s faithful Word and promises and to not allow satan to get the upper hand. Take every challenge to God in prayer, and in faith and thankfulness stand firm, and you WILL reap the harvest. Praise God!
Perhaps you have trusted God by tithing and not seeing the results. Don’t stop trusting Him and His Word. He is true to His promises! (Isaiah 55:11). Ask Him to reveal to you what is going on and if there is something He wants you to change, change it. Remember to not only give a tenth of your income, but also of your time and service. God already possess everything and He does not need our money. He wants us to be obedient in giving, so that His Kingdom can grow and others can be saved in Jesus. He wants us to trust Him with our hearts, finances, time etc. Therefore, as part of the principle of giving, I give you today these personal testimonies of my own life. By accepting Jesus Christ, we receive the fullness of His grace and unlimited blessings. In Jesus, there is Abundant Prosperity! Amen!
Love in Christ
Princess K