Purpose of giving

Continued from last week

There are also curses to follow the neglect and disobedience to His divine instruction and the disobedient ones are under the curse.

“Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” MaI3:9. It is an unpleasant experience for an individual, a family, a community, and even a nation to carry a curse from God and suffer under the curse, the curse occasioned by refusal to give God the Owner, the Creator and Lord of all.

On the return of Judah from captivity, the rebuilding of the temple which was a symbol of Israel’s worship and national unity was neglected. The Jews were rebuilding each his own personal luxurious houses while the Lord’s was deferred on the pretence that it was not yet time. God challenged them through prophet Haggai who was sent to rebuke them for their negligence. The nation was suffering and could not account for their sufferings. The nation was plagued with barrenness, poverty, disappointment, failure, famine, blasting, mildew and leakages in their purses. Lack of response to give to Divine cause leads to opening doors for wastages and leaking purse. Giving to God closes the door to the undeserved wastes and leaking pipes. Mal 1:1-6; 2:16,17.

In the parable of the rich fool taught by Jesus in Luke’s gospel chapter 12 verses 16-21, we learn that a life of self love, self centeredness, avarice, pride and arrogance without a concern for others, and no thought about God, and no place for divine plan and authority is a challenge to God and His lordship over all. It ends up with sudden demand for his life that he has no power over, and a summon to give an account of life before the justice of heaven to a place of no return, a place of no appeal or redress, the final court in heaven. God is the owner, author, master and giver of all and all must be surrendered to him.

We give because it is the work of faith to give. Faith stands with works as the proof of faith. Faith without works is dead. Living faith is justified and proved with demonstrable good works. Works without faith is unjustified and unacceptable to God; equally faith unproved by good work is empty, vain and dead. Giving is an important aspect of good works. Jas 2:14- 26, Jas 4:17.

There are two treasures for man and two places to lay the treasures. The earthly treasure is meant for earthly use but the heavenly treasure is meant for heavenly use. Earthly treasure is temporary and perishable and cannot go beyond the earth. Heavenly treasure is meant for eternal use where the treasure is safe and secure throughout eternity as it is kept in an eternal barn where thieves and robbers have no access. It is the earthly treasure given to God for His use that will be kept in the eternal bank of heaven for eternal use for those who have been saved in their life time. Earthly treasure keeps the heart in the world, while heavenly treasure keeps the heart in heaven and makes one heavenly conscious. Matt 6:19-21.

To be continued