The Power of Generous Giving in Faith

Posted on by korgrocker

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a 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 9:6-8 NLT

The ultra-cautious among our society struggle with the idea of giving money away. Or there are the miserly and mean people, hoarders who feel the same. It is easy for them to get into the mindset of putting the blame for a person’s or a family’s poverty onto them for not having done something that they should have done. In Charles Dickens’ famous book, “Scrooge”, he was once approached by charity collectors, asking for a donation for the poor and destitute, to which he asked several questions: “Are there no prisons?” “And the Union workhouses? “The treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” His final callous refusal to donate any money was accompanied by, “If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. Thankfully, today, people like Scrooge do not represent the majority of the British public, with nearly £14 billion given to charitable causes in the last year of records, 2023. There’s more, because “stuff” donated to charity shops raises a net profit for the charities they represent of a further £300-£400 million or more. Not everyone, of course, is in a position to give to charities, but those who do give generously, it seems. 

Begging has become something of a blight in Britain’s High Streets, and the difficulty for those willing to give them something is discerning who is in genuine need and who isn’t. The same discernment is required when giving to charitable organisations, as some are more efficient, with lower overheads, than others, but reputable charities publish the proportion of donations that end up funding the good cause. 

So, after having written all that, we turn to Paul’s helpful advice regarding financial giving. The first thing that strikes us is that God is in the giving. So when faced with a need, the first thing a believer must do is to pray about whether it is a need they need to support, and, if so, how much should be given. Some years ago, I can remember attending a series of Christian camps, where there was no charge made, but the administration was to be supported by a donation from those attending. Year after year the financial needs of running the camp were met, as God spoke clearly to the people who attended, people who were obedient in giving what God had told them to give. In Galatians 5:25, Paul wrote, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives”. 

In God’s economy, there is an association between the amount given and God’s provision for the giver. 2 Corinthians 9:10, “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you”. Believers who are generous in their giving find that they still have sufficient resources to continue their lives. Paul also wrote, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully”” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God’s provision will not necessarily involve a manna situation where God’s benevolence is graciously resourced from heaven itself. He will use believers to bless others in dire need, and be a blessing to the givers in the process. This was the case with the Macedonian and Corinthian believers collecting an offering for the poor in Judea.

“God is the one who provides seed
for the farmer and then bread to eat“

There has been much abuse by unscrupulous individuals and organisations who promote what has come to be known as the “Prosperity Gospel”. This is a belief among some Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always God’s will for faithful believers. It emphasises that positive confession, faith, and donations (seed-faith) lead to material wealth and health as divine favour, often focusing on “living your best life now”. However, the prosperity gospel is widely criticised by mainstream Christians and other denominations as a “false gospel” because it contradicts the Bible’s teachings and focuses on material possessions rather than spiritual growth. It also ends up exploiting people who are poor. In that respect, I remember one elderly lady in my church who had only a small pension to live on, yet was caught up in giving money she didn’t have to an American evangelical organisation that promised her much in return.

Occasionally, an appeal is made from the pulpit of our churches for a special need, such as for a missionary or an overseas project. There may also be needs closer to home, and I remember, at a Christian conference a couple of years ago, how a member of the worship team confessed to being in a dire financial situation, which prompted an outpouring of generosity, with the stage being covered in banknotes after the meeting. We pilgrims must always be ready to provide financially for those in God’s family who are in need. And we give cheerfully, knowing that God is in the giving. 

Is there anyone today who we know is in need? Then pray to God for guidance and provide for the need as He directs.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your provision for our needs and pray that we can supply money for the needs of others, in our families and fellowships. Please lead us we pray. Amen

Breakfast on the Beach

Posted on by korgrocker

“When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.”
John 21:9-11 NLT

Events were unfolding quickly. After a fruitless night’s fishing, and as dawn was breaking, the disciples were about a hundred yards from the shore when they noticed a Figure standing there. He instructed them to put their nets over the side of the boat one more time, and, after doing do, they found that they had caught more fish than they could have ever dreamed of. In fact, they had caught 153 large fish, as they later found out. John said to Peter, “It’s the Lord”, and impetuous Peter jumped over the side and headed for the beach. Breakfast was waiting for them – barbecued fish with bread, and Jesus told Peter to bring some more fish for the meal. 

Once more the disciples were exposed to Jesus’ miracles. A heavy haul of fish but the net didn’t break. A breakfast cooking before them. And of course, for the third time, the resurrected Jesus standing there with them. Twice previously during His ministry years Jesus had miraculously fed thousands of people, from just a few fish and some bread, and here He was again, repeating the occasion before them. Not for thousands but for a few disillusioned, tired and hungry disciples. Would they have been hearing Jesus’ words, “O ye of little faith” ringing in their ears?

We pilgrims read the Bible stories. We read the accounts of Jesus’ ministry years, as He walked the highways and byways of Palestine. We feel the pain of the woman caught in adultery, or the synagogue leader and his sick daughter. We feel the joy of those sitting down to a meal of bread and fish. We wonder as the figure of Lazarus, wrapped in grave clothes, appears from the mouth of a tomb. But then we turn to our circumstances, perhaps facing into financial difficulties, with too much month left at the end of the money. Perhaps struggling with our poor mental or physical health, or the sickness of someone close to us. And in it all, we too hear the Lord say to us “O ye of little faith”. Jesus had the answer for tired and hungry disciples, and He has the answer for us as well. The Kingdom of God is not just for some time in the future. It is here with us today. In every situation we face. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need“. These were not just nice platitudes for a people without needs. They applied, and continue to apply, to all who believe in Him. So we, like the disciples raise our eyes away from the situations before us, and instead focus on the Meet-er of needs, Jesus himself, conscious that He is interceding for us in Heaven. 

Dear Lord Jesus. Where would be without You? Please bolster our faith today as we navigate through this challenging life, supplying the provision we need for the journey ahead. Amen.

Feeding the Crowds

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!””
John 6:5-7 NLT

There are a few questions we can ask about this passage. Why would Jesus want to feed all these people? And why choose Philip out of the Twelve to discuss the catering with? Was Jesus teasing Philip, who perhaps was a bit gullible? Why didn’t the crowd of people plan ahead so that they wouldn’t go hungry? But regardless, we can shut our eyes and imagine all these people dressed in the Middle Eastern way, making their way across the landscape, whatever it consisted of, trying to find Jesus. Men and women, with children as well. Perhaps singing, talking, carrying some who were disabled or sick. They hadn’t left their homes and villages without a good reason. They were looking for Jesus.

But Jesus, compassionate as ever, wasn’t just concerned with teaching them about His Kingdom. He also attended to their physical conditions, healing the sick, casting out demons, and doing miraculous works that benefitted those who found Him. And His beneficence didn’t end there. He was going to send them home with full stomachs. That is how much our Heavenly Father cares for us. Jesus was a real life manifestation of the God we read about in Psalm 103:2-5. The Psalmist wrote, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” Jesus was interested in the whole person.

So, Jesus asked Philip how they could find enough food to feed all these people. Philip was overwhelmed with the scale of the task, imagining many months of work to generate sufficient money to pay the tab when it came. But do we pilgrims, like Philip, also sometimes look at a seemingly insurmountable problem, thinking of a natural solution and then imagining what it would take to bring it about? We think about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, active as I write, and wonder how they can ever be “fixed”. We can, closer to home, think about an unexpected bill that has just landed on our doorsteps. Or an announcement of redundancies. Perhaps we are a parent looking on at a sick child, riven by an apparently incurable condition, and wondering how and when the suffering will ever end. All situations that can bring about a heart-stopping despair, until we involve our wonderful compassionate God in the situation we are facing. He has the bread we need when hungry. The finances when we are desperate. The medicines when sick. All from His treasure chest of resources that know no limit. 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Of course, we take note that Paul was referring to “needs” rather than “wants”, but to the crowd making their way across the Galilean countryside, sufficient food to sustain them on their return journey was a necessity that Jesus was aware of.

When it comes to the “giants” that we are facing, the remedy pivots upon our faith and trust in our wonderful Heavenly Father. We pilgrims are men and women of faith tramping our way towards our ultimate “Promised Land”. And all the obstacles we encounter in our journey will bow the knee before God as we pray, in faith, for His provision. Paul wrote a helpful instruction to the Philippians, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Father God. We are overwhelmed with Your compassion and provision. We are so thankful and worship You today. Amen.

The Best

Posted on by korgrocker

“Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!””
John 2:7-10 NLT

This account of the water turned to wine lacks detail and instead presents the facts accurately and succinctly. But we just don’t know other details such as when the water become wine. As it was being poured into the pots or just when the servant dipped a ladle into the first one? What was going through servants minds as they suddenly realised that this was now wine and not the water they had put there? What were the guests thinking when they found out what had happened? It was one of those occasions when it would have been great to have been a fly on the wall. 

It was convention at such events for the celebration to start off with the best and most expensive wines, which were then followed by cheaper and cheaper varieties as the guests became less discerning. But to the surprise of the “master of ceremonies”, the man in charge of the event, this new batch of wine, supplied to him for a taste, was better than any other he had tasted that day. But the servants knew that it was of no credit to the bridegroom. Jesus had performed a miracle right before their eyes.

Isn’t it just like Jesus? No poor quality answer to a prayer. No half-hearted miracle. Most of the miracles performed by Jesus were for healing, and nowhere do we find that any of His miracles were only partially successful or of poor quality. For example, Matthew 12:15, “But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them”. Not only did Jesus heal everyone who came to Him, their healing was total. With God, nothing is second best. The only limitation that God has to deal with is ourselves, our expectations and our faith. There is a verse in Ephesians (3:20) that sums this up. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” What are we asking of God today? What are we thinking about regarding our lives before us? One verse I find very humbling and a wake up call when I have doubts about God and His goodness is from 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is“. That’s how great our God is. there is no end to His grace and love.

Dear Father God, we worship You today, aware of Your infinite and eternal loving kindness. Amen.