Generosity Precedes a Rewarding Life
God
The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) A man would never allow his own child to die for someone else's child, even if he had many children of his own. Yet, out of love for mankind, God gave His only Son to die so that we might know the depth of His love.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8) It is true that no one would be willing to die for an unrighteous person, and certainly no one would consider dying for a sinner. However, while we were yet sinners, Christ died in our place so that we might witness the love and sacrifice of both the Father and the Son. As 1 John 3:16 states, "By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers"
Abraham
God asked Abraham to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice. God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of." (Genesis 22:1-2). For us reading this passage today, it may seem easy, but for Abraham, who did not know what was ahead, it would have been incredibly difficult. If God had asked you to give up your son, could you do it? Yet Abraham truly gave his son Isaac on the distant mountain of Moriah. Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven. “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”(Genesis 22:11–12).
What benefit did Abraham receive for giving his son to God? The Scripture says: “Because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16-18). God Himself promised this to Abraham.
Because Abraham did not refuse what God asked him to do, God promised to bless him forever. Furthermore, his descendants would multiply like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, and they would take possession of their enemies' gates. Moreover, through his offspring, Jesus Christ, all nations on earth—including you and me—would receive blessings. Today's believers receiving God's blessings are a result of Abraham listening to God's word.
David
King David was punished by God because he counted the people without divine command, resulting in the death of seven thousand of his subjects. At that time, David repented and approached Araunah to offer a sacrifice. When Araunah offered his oxen and carts for use in the sacrifice, the king replied, "I will not take them. I will pay their price and buy them; I do not want to offer a burnt offering to the Lord my God without paying for it." Consequently, David paid Araunah fifty shekels of silver and purchased both the threshing floor and the oxen. He then built an altar there and offered a burnt offering and a peace offering to the Lord. (2 Samuel 24:24–25)
Some believers are unaware of God's grace and therefore give nothing to Him, desiring to worship without offering anything. However, a true believer should not worship without giving, as David demonstrated by using his own resources to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.
No One Should Come Empty-Handed
The Lord said to the Israelites, "At the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. Everyone must appear with a gift as he is able, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you." (Deuteronomy 16:16-17). Believers also should return blessings to the Lord in accordance with the grace He has given them, never appearing empty-handed.
Tithing and Giving
"Should a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure." (Malachi 3:8-10).
The tithe belongs to the Lord. Withholding it is akin to stealing from His possessions. Failure to give tithes invites a curse, preventing you from receiving God's abundant blessings as intended. Therefore, give your tithes cheerfully and faithfully.
You should offer your tithes specifically to your local church of affiliation. It is only when the local church has sufficient financial support that it can function effectively. Some people seek spiritual insight yet live like guests in the house of God without contributing; such individuals are cursed and shut off from blessings. Others, however, reside within one church but give their tithes to a distant congregation instead. This practice is also incorrect, as a distant church cannot provide you with spiritual guidance or practical physical care if you face needs in your own community. If a need arises where you live, your local church will address it. Therefore, invest your time and energy in your own local church, where you are connected to the body of believers.
A Bag With Holes
Through the prophet Haggai, the Lord spoke these words: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.” (Haggai 1:3-6)
This was a rebuke from the Lord through the prophet Haggai. The people had been commanded by God to rebuild the temple, yet they remained focused on constructing their own homes instead of obeying His directive. Consequently, they experienced hardship—sowing much but reaping little; eating without satisfaction; drinking without becoming full; wearing clothes that offered no warmth; and working only to see their wages slip through holes in their bags.
Today, the lack of fulfillment, the sense of emptiness, and the various struggles believers face may stem from neglecting what God has called them to do while pursuing their own desires. Therefore, we must reflect on our actions and recommit ourselves to the work God has assigned us. We are called to actively participate in our local church as much as possible. Only when we open both our hearts and our "pockets" to the Lord can we truly be filled and blessed by Him.
God Blows Away
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD. You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth has withheld its crops. I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.” (Haggai 1:7-11).
When we read this passage, it becomes clear that material abundance is not as important as God's blessing. Even if you work hard and sacrifice sleep, if God shuts the door on you when He comes, your efforts will be in vain. How does He shut the door? He may do so through illness, unexpected expenses, loss of property, or sudden needs for family support—there are many ways. Therefore, we must carefully examine our lives and actions.
Sowing Seeds
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
Paul taught that whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Seeds must exist before they can be sown; if you do not possess them, you must acquire or borrow them to sow. Without sowing seeds, no amount of rainfall can produce a harvest from God. When you sow, give the best rather than the worst. Furthermore, when giving alms, do so cheerfully and not with a grudging heart. You are also called to help those who are poor and in need. God does not love the stingy; He loves only the generous. Therefore, from now on, give generously—whatever you can—for the work of God, for the church, or to the poor.
Will Reward Again
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
Paul said that every believer is building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ's church. Yet the materials used are not all alike. Some build with gold and silver that cannot burn, while others build with wood, hay, and straw that will be consumed by fire. All these works will be tested by the fire in heaven; just as the fire does not discriminate but burns whatever it touches, so God does not judge a person by their appearance but evaluates their work to reward them accordingly. Therefore, we must bring more building materials into heaven. What kind of materials should we offer? Only those that ascend from earth to heaven are suitable. Thus, we must dedicate our time, strength, and abilities to works such as rescuing lost souls and nurturing spiritual growth.
What kind of materials resemble gold, silver, or precious stones—those that endure the fire? Every work performed in and led by the Holy Spirit corresponds to these enduring treasures. However, works done out of pride, a desire to compete with others, or selfish ambition will be like wood, hay, or straw that will burn.
Do Not Let Others Know
Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4)
Jesus taught that those who perform righteous acts should not seek human recognition, as hypocrites do by announcing their good deeds publicly. Hypocrites crave praise and display their generosity for others to see. However, if believers wish to receive a reward from God, they must give in secret before Him, without letting anyone else know.
Store Your Treasure in Heaven
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Jesus tells us not to keep our treasures on earth. Treasures that remain on the earth may be ruined by thieves or moths, and they can be stolen away. Therefore we should place the treasures given by God in heaven instead. How shall we do this? As noted above, we can aid those who capture and send spirits to heaven. We can send our treasures to heaven only while we are still alive; after death, earthly treasures cannot be placed inside the caskets to bring them to heaven. Hence let us quickly send precious spirit or treasure to heaven while we are still living.
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