Print

Giving to a Better Living

2 Jan2018 KWHarticle// Kenneth W. Hagin

AN IMPORTANT PART of experiencing financial success God's way is to be a giver. As the original Giver, our Heavenly Father set the example for us. He gave His only Son to redeem mankind. As a result, He received more sons and daughters in return. Romans 8:32 (NKJV) says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

God creates avenues for blessings to flow into our lives when we operate in line with His Word. He designed giving as a way into the abundant life. And it's through our giving that we tap into the abundance that He wants us to have.

Giving, however, is more than just pulling money out of a wallet. First, we must have the right outlook about finances and live a godly lifestyle.

There are many passages in the Bible that talk about giving and receiving, and there are many reasons to be a giver. Giving causes us to live in line with God's blessings and unlocks Heaven's resources for our lives. It also enables us to outmaneuver the enemy who tries to put and keep us in poverty. And giving brings us favor with people.

Secondly, we should develop a plan to distribute a portion of our increase. Distributing a portion of the increase God has given us is essential for continued growth.

Have you ever seen a pond that's dried up? This happens when temperatures are hot and it hasn't rained. The water evaporates and eventually all that's left is stinky, stagnant pools of water. Whatever was living in the water begins to wither and die because there isn't an outlet. The same thing can happen with finances.

When you have an investment plan, if you don't keep investing on the increase, you won't receive any more than what came in. When we give, we're planting seed in the ground. And when we continually plant, we always have something growing.

Thirdly, we must identify avenues where we can distribute our resources. One avenue that God has set up is through tithes and offerings as we see in Malachi 3:10.

When Lynette and I first got married, we didn't have a big income. Sometimes it was pretty tight. But the first thing we did when we received a paycheck was to take out the tithe. We did this before we spent money on anything else. Many times it looked like we didn't have enough money to meet our monthly obligations.

One time we thought we wouldn't tithe that month, and we would catch up the next month. But it never works out that way. You're just in a bigger bind. So we tithed even though our financial situation didn't look good. And at the end of the month all of our bills were paid!

Another avenue is through sowing and reaping. Luke 6:38 (NLT) says "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Then in Galatians 6:7 (NKJV), "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."

Keep in mind that after you sow any kind of seed, there's a period of cultivation before harvest time. If you have a garden, this is when you pull weeds, aerate the soil, and water the seeds you have planted. When it comes to sowing finances, we cultivate the spiritual soil by thanking God that His Word is working on our behalf. We do this until the harvest comes.

Finally, giving should be as much a part of our spiritual life as praying and reading the Word. It's part of our worship and obedience. It's a way that we exercise our faith in what God said He would do. So let's purpose to be a pipeline—a distributor—for the blessings of God to flow through.

Here in Oklahoma we know about oil pipelines. If you shut off the flow of oil and look inside a pipe, you will see that it is coated with oil. In the same way, when God uses us as a pipeline that His blessings flow through, some of those blessings will stick to us. And that residue is more than enough to take care of us!

Some people may say, "If I had it, I would give it." You don't have to give beyond what you can do. Give out of what you have. And when you do, you will see the increase start to come.

Know that you will live in abundance if you become a giver. As you develop your thinking in line with the Word, you will receive the blessing at the level of your giving. God wants you to be blessed. He wants you to give, but in the right way and for reasons that are in line with His Word.

FAITH NUGGET

Investing God's Way

Kenneth E. Hagin

Beyond cooperating with God's laws concerning tithing and giving offerings, be open to giving to others. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit Who will very often direct you specifically to give.

Now don't do something just because somebody else did. We never want to operate on someone else's experience. Operate on what you know the Bible says and on what the Holy Spirit directs you to do.

You don't have to have a "leading" to pay tithes and give offerings. You don't need to be led to give and sow. The Bible tells you to do those things. But it's when you go beyond that and obey the Spirit of God that things happen.

Start where you are. Be faithful to obey the Word by paying your tithes and giving offerings. And be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit when He directs you specifically to give. You can't out give God. If you sow seeds bountifully in faith and obedience, you will reap an abundant harvest of blessings!

[Editor's Note: This Faith Nugget was adapted from Kenneth E. Hagin's online article "Investing God's Way." Go to bit.do/investgodsway to read the article in its entirety.]