The Word of God is filled with promises for every believer. Jesus clearly mentions in scripture that a life filled with abundant blessing, peace and joy is God's intention for all His children. And these promises of a full, prosperous life are all placed within our reach and are all obtained by faith.
This principle holds true even when we give of our finances into the kingdom of God. When we give God our finances, we give believing His promise to increase that financial seed to further His kingdom and bring financial blessing back into our own lives. Just as it says in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
There are however certain misconceptions when it comes to giving our finances to the kingdom of God in order to receive His promise of financial blessing. Many times people think that giving to God of their finances is a difficult and painful duty that leaves them feeling like they have lost something of great value, rather than received anything at all.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8, says, "Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it" ) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. And God is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance,..." Amplified
I have heard some people say that when we give of our finances to the Lord, we should give till it hurts. But according to this verse, the type of giving God takes pleasure in has nothing to do with pain! In fact He attaches His promise of abundant grace with a cheerful giver!
This scripture lays out a specific sequence of events when it comes to giving. Firstly, it says that before we actually give to the Lord, we need to have an attitude of being purposeful and cheerful concerning our giving. This means that our motivation comes from a heart and life overflowing with joyful gratitude towards the Lord.
Secondly, once we purpose to give to the Lord from that grateful, joyful disposition, He immediately responds by causing great grace to come to us in abundance!
When I did a study on the word grace, specifically from the scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God told Paul that, "My grace is sufficient for you... my strength and power are made perfect in your weakness."
I saw that wrapped up in that word grace, is the supernatural strength of God that releases His power on the inside of us and enables us to see our circumstances from His perspective.
As long as we give with our eyes on our own financial perspective - regardless of what station of life we are in, (whether we have very little or plentiful financial means), we will always limit our faith when we give. However, grace enables us to see our finances through God's perspective, and that is a perspective that releases a faith within us that has no limits at all!
A limitless faith produces a limitless blessing! And just what is God's perspective of our finances? Well, let's take a look at the rest of 2 Corinthians 9:7,8, "... so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need - be selfsufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]."
So when we take the next step of the sequence, and give of our finances to the Lord, with hearts willing and grateful and full of joy. Hearts that are motivated by our sincere love for Who God is in our lives - His grace enables us to see our finances from His unlimited perspective. That picture of abundance in our hearts and minds gives rise to an unlimited faith in Him and His promises. Releasing our financial gift with that kind of faith in our hearts propels us into His supernatural cycle of blessing!
God's grace on cheerful givers causes them to walk in the fullness of His promise of financial blessing. As we purpose to become cheerful givers, with our eyes fixed on God's Word - we become a powerful blessing to the kingdom of God and the world around us.
André and Jenny Roebert are the pastors and cofounders of River Ministries situated in East London, South Africa, incorporating various ministries, each geared to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the nations of this world.
