Giving to Get
An abundant-beyond-belief return on any investments made as
per God’s instructions has always been an assurance from God. When God gave His
Law to the Israelites, a significant section of the law was on bringing tithes,
offerings, first-fruits of produce and of material increase to the house of the
Lord, and on meeting the needs of the poor. This obedience to His instructions
was meant to bless and prosper the obedient; in this context God had said: “Oh,
that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all
My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children
forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).
The history of Israel through the ages is ample evidence
that God’s people have always prospered when they obeyed God and gave of their
possessions to Him and for His work. But when they did not do so, they always
suffered; and what they tried to keep back and safe-guard too did not remain
with them.
Under King Hezekiah came about a great reformation; God’s
people submitted to God’s Word, corrected themselves, and once again started to
bring in their tithes and offerings to the house of the Lord to meet the needs
of the priests and of the house of God (2 Chronicles 31:1-11). As they
faithfully brought in their tithes and offerings, God blessed them abundantly;
so they could bring in even more from their increase to the house of the Lord,
and it was so much that even after the needs of the priests and of the house of
God had been fully met, a great abundance was left over and laid in heaps in
the house of the Lord, since there was no more room left to store it all; king
Hezekiah had to ask for more rooms to be built to store the tithes and
offerings: “And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered
him and said, "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the
house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the
Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance."
Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and
they prepared them” (2 Chronicles 31:10-11).
Later, as Israel once again deviated away from following the
Lord and fell into serious problems, God reminded them: “Bring all the tithes
into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in
this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the
windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be
room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).
Through the wise king Solomon, the Holy Spirit of God had it
recorded that: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the
first-fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
Take note of those words – “Honor the Lord with your
possessions…”; as children of God we need to realize and acknowledge that
all that we have is because the Lord our God has graciously granted it to us
(Deuteronomy 8:18). Our possessions, whether they are physical wealth and material
riches; or some skills, talents, capabilities and intellectual abilities; or some
spiritual gifts – whatever, they are all from the Lord because of His grace
upon us. They all are the seeds that the Lord has given to us for sowing in His
field – the people of the world. We can selfishly use up this seed for
ourselves and finish it off, or sow it and reap a bountiful harvest that will
bless us as well as bless others, the choice is ours. Unless we learn to go out
into God’s field, open our hands and sow this seed into God’s field, we will
not get to experience the abundance of the Lord’s blessings (Proverbs 10:22).
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