There are two ways to give.
We can give by reason or we can give by revelation. One of these ways you don't get any credit for. The other way pleases God.
First, we can give by reason. When we give by reason we look at our bank
account and how much we've got and we figure out what can we afford. And we give a reasonable amount based on what
we can afford. That doesn't require any
faith. An atheist can give by
reason. You don't have to believe in God
for that.
The other way to give is to give by revelation. Revelation is when we pray and read what God says in the
Scriptures, and we ask God, "God, what do You want me to give? God, how much do You want me to trust You for?" That's giving by
faith. That's the kind of giving that
God blesses.
Some may say, "God, You give to me and then I'll
give." But that's not faith. It's like, "God, You bring in this big
windfall and when it arrives then I'll give some of it back to You." That may be gratitude but that certainly
isn't faith. Giving is when you can't
even afford it, when you give in advance -- like you're planting the seed in
advance.
The Bible says, They
gave much because of their great joy. I can tell you that they gave as much as
they were able and even more than they could afford (2 Cor. 8:2-3 NCV). Anybody can give when they've got excess
funds overflowing. Anybody can believe
when it's sitting there in front of them.
Anybody can obey when they already see the results.
It's when you don’t feel like it and it doesn't make sense, and
you step out in faith that God blesses you.
God comes through on His promises after we trust Him first.
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