GET YOUR GIANTS RUNNING

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

I was blown away when a good follower of Jesus came to me and said that he and his family have stopped tithing and giving for the last year. Having nothing now he wanted to borrow from me.

And so, I am motivated to write.

The happenings around the world have caused so many to be pressed into a real financial hardship. They’ve lost jobs. They’ve broken their fixed deposits and are slowly depleting their savings. They’ve sold things at an extreme loss. They cannot pay their bank interests. They cannot get the jobs they desire. They’ve lost hope!

And more so. Pay cuts and the rising cost of living is adding to their countless sorrows. But regardless of what is happening to our economy, there is still a lost world needing to hear the Gospel. And the truth is that when giving to God and His Church suffers, the work of the ministry is hindered!

We all face these problems, none of us are immune.

Do you know that the Bible makes it clear that tithes and offerings are not optional for the followers of Christ?

The truth is dear beloved, we have an even greater responsibility now than ever to be consistent and faithful. You know why? Because the ‘law’ of giving and receiving is always at work, regardless of your circumstances!

Will the current financial pressures change our hearts and attitudes towards your financial commitments to God?

Let me answer.

When the Israelites spies went into the Promised land, they brought back a terrible report to Moses and the other leaders. And they were out of Egypt and slavery only eleven days earlier! They said that there were giants in the land and they saw themselves a grasshoppers. Joshua and Caleb saw different despite the reality, despite their confessions, despite their objections, and despite their oppositions.

I said. Let me answer.

Will the giants defeat my faith, or will my faith defeat the giants?

My wife and I have resolved that regardless of what is happening to the economy, we will not cut back to giving the same percentage we have always given. That regardless of the three surgeries I had some time ago, that regardless of the rising costs we are facing, that regardless of how costly travel has become…we will not opt out in any way to tithe and to give.

Here is something I would like to encourage and challenge you with.

Every time you give for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom, He is watching. You can cut back on somethings in your life, but as you refuse to cut back on the Kingdom, He is watching. When your commitment is unwavering, and your heart is resting in His Promises, He is watching. God is taking not on your love and devotion to Him and His Kingdom. As an outright result, God will provide in unique and surprising ways for you.

The truth is this and both my wife and I can testify to this for sure, that in all this time we have been provided for by God in all things we have ever needed!

I quoted above the words of the Apostle Paul. He said… “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

Let us briefly consider what it means. This is a metaphor the Holy Spirit uses to teach us.

What does a farmer, who is a sower of seed, do to guarantee that he will have a rich harvest?

He will plant in the right season. Then and only then, will he be guaranteed to have a harvest.

But what if he says, “It’s too difficult to plant seed right now, I will hold on?”

Or what if he says, “I’m going to eat my seed because I have so little of it anyway?”

Without a doubt he will soon face a crisis, and if he borrows, it will become a huge debt.

No seed, no planting, always results in no harvest. But every wise farmer knows that his future is completely dependent on getting his seed into the ground, and if he fails to do this, then he himself is guaranteeing his own crop failure! Therefore, regardless of the weather or how difficult the task, a farmer must plant seed if he wants to reap a harvest.

This is God’s Divine law of sowing and reaping. The law of sowing and reaping applies to every sphere of life, including finances. It supersedes natural laws and natural economic crises. Even if the world around you suffers financially, sowing seed into the Kingdom of God will bring you protection and blessing.

This is God’s promise to you.

Oh, of course, I’m very aware that many of you are worrying about the economy and wondering what’s going to happen in the future. But a spirit of fear will cause you to back off and retreat from doing what God commands and that will put you in a negative cycle that brings a curse instead of a blessing.

If you want to stay in the cycle of blessing, keep on planting, and so, in turn, you will keep on harvesting.

My wife and I have been blessed regardless.

So, keep your eyes on Jesus; and believe for a good harvest to come from the seed you have sown faithfully into good soil.

And hey! Get your giants running!