December 13, 2023
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Acts 20:33-36 ESV
When I began my walk with the Lord, I was exposed to some tapes by one of the so-called “prosperity preachers.” I liked a lot of what he said, but as I continued to follow him and some of his cohorts, I started hearing something that disturbed me: a lot of it sounded like covetousness. In fact, when I answered God’s call to preach, I was hesitant to attend Rhema Bible Training Center because it was known as an epicenter of the “faith” crowd. I felt that God was leading me that direction, but I couldn’t get past the “greed factor.”
Thank God, I found a little mini-book by Kenneth Hagin Jr. entitled “Faith Worketh by Love.” It was life changing. He identified love as the moving force for our faith. My reading of the New Testament had already convinced me that love, a Christlike selfless love, was the goal we were trying to reach. That little book prompted me to follow my heart and apply to Rhema. It turned out to be a great blessing.
In his book entitled “The Midas Touch,” Kenneth Hagin Sr. said, “Over the centuries, the Church has managed to either be in the ditch on one side of the road or the other from time to time regarding this subject.” (Hagin, Kenneth E.. The Midas Touch. Faith Library Publications.) I heard him repeat variations of that statement many times. In this particular instance he was referring to ministers and money. One side of the highway says, “Money is evil. A real godly minister will be poor.” On the other side of the road, the ditch-dwellers say things like, “If you’re really following God, He will make you rich.”
In Acts 20, Paul reminds the churches that he never demanded finances from them; instead, he worked with his hands. Similarly, in his first letter to the Corinthians, he reminded them that he never asked any support because he was concerned that it would hinder his ability to reach them with the Gospel message. In the same chapter, Paul makes the case that “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:14 ESV). He goes so far as to refer to it as a right (V.12). It seems we have both sides of the issue in one chapter!
As with all things, it’s imprudent to take one verse, or even one passage, and make it a universal law. God wants the Gospel preached, His children cared for, and the needs of the Church met. These priorities may require an ongoing balancing act in practice. In all things, God is primarily concerned with the hearts of the individuals involved. Paul gave us a clue to the heart problem in Acts 20:33 when he used the term “covet.” That’s the recurring issue, hearts that lust after stuff. In verse 35, he gave the gold standard for the Christian heart on money: “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” If my heart’s in the giving over the receiving, I’m on the right track.
It’s important, I think, to notice that He didn’t say, “It’s evil to receive.” Receiving is a good thing, it’s just not as good as giving! Therein lies the key to staying out of the ditch on both sides of the road. I want to avoid greed and covetousness, but I also don’t want to overcorrect and glorify lack. It’s important to remember that the devil is the source of both greed and scarcity.
The balanced life of generous prosperity comes by taking a regular heart check. New Testament giving comes from a heart that has been transformed from covetousness to generosity. As we grow in the image of Jesus, we are growing in generosity.
Somebody said: Honor God with your faith, your giving, and right motives.
Kenneth E. Hagin
Here’s the Point: Godly living is a matter of the heart. Stay in the middle of the road by asking three questions concerning your giving:
- Am I giving in faith? Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Faith begins where the will of God is known. His Word is His will. Am I giving in line with God’s Word? The rest of that verse says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Do I believe that God rewards me when I follow Him? If so, then I honor Him by using my faith to receive the blessings that He promises. He wants me to have them. Believe it, receive it, speak it!
- Am I giving out of love? Love wants the best for its object. Love is not looking for recognition or return. Love is not a ploy to get approval from others. Love doesn’t give to salve a guilty conscience. Paul said that giving was the proof of love. (2 Corinthians 8:8-11) Jesus said that others would know we are His followers by our love. (John 13:35) Love God and let Him love others through you: Give!
- Am I giving joyfully? Generosity is a joyous thing. Two enemies of joyful giving are shame and habit. First, don’t allow yourself to be manipulated by guilt, giving from a grudging sense of obligation. If it’s not joyous, then it’s neither faith nor love. Second, don’t give out of habit, turning it into a religious ritual. Prepare your offerings ahead of time. Pray over them. Use your faith to believe you receive the blessings that go with giving. Speak blessing over those who will receive your gifts. Recognize that you are exercising your priesthood as a believer by bringing “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). That’s a joyous thing, indeed!
Pastor Virgil
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85741
New Class: “The Tithe. An 8-hour course focused on God’s plan and purpose in the tithe. The videos and course outline are available free of charge on the FCF Tucson YouTube channel.
pastorvirgil.com 