The Gospel has been manipulated to suggest that we follow Jesus for personal gain. The history of the church in the world is full of people who used the Gospel to enrich their wealth and power, and unfortunately, this pattern continues today. The Prosperity Gospel in the United States is alive and well; we can see it in the gigantic buildings built as monuments to the charismatic preachers and the massive amounts of cash that go toward supporting the lavish lifestyles of those leading these congregations.
In contrast, Jesus asked us to follow His path of sacrifice as we proclaim the message of release for captives and freedom from sin. The prosperity Jesus proclaims for the world does not mean our comfort; rather, we strive to ensure that people understand and experience freedom from the oppressive acts of the world and sin. The church was not called to build monuments and structures, yet these bodies still lead people to the Gospel, even in a circuitous manner. However, the church is reminded not to grow complacent with working with the gifts it has been given and to remember that we are called to outdo one another in giving. Paul leads us in our main focus to give so that the Gospel may reach the world.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Cor 9:6-10.
The work we put in will be the equivalent of that which can come out. Sowing is the work we put into things. If we don’t share the gospel, then people won’t see the Gospel in us. If we act poorly, that is how the world will see us. Farming metaphor: Work needs to be done, and if we don’t work on our relationship with Christ, then we won’t grow in that relationship, which includes our giving. As we look at Jesus’ parable of the talents, we see how Jesus opens up about using the gift of what we have received for growth. As the master gave to the servants, two of them invested and got a return for their investment, but one did nothing with it, noting when God gives us something, it isn’t for us to hoard or hide away but rather use it freely and allow it to multiply in others. When we build palaces of sanctuaries and homes, we ultimately stash away God’s gifts and the giving we make multiplies in the lives of the people in our communities. God gives to us and doesn’t force us to do anything with it, but if we do nothing and see no results, we cannot blame God for that.
However, no giving is compulsory, not even tithing. This is where the church often goes astray because there is the temptation to look at giving as a commercial exchange. God doesn’t create a robotic compulsory following. Giving must come from the heart, and one must give while expecting nothing in return. Our world wants to convert charity into investment. Compulsion is the tactic of the world. We want people to feel as if they have to do something in a particular manner to achieve a specific result, but that is not how God works. God desires our worship.
From the beginning of all existence, God’s creation, sustenance, and redemption intertwine, revealing God’s multifaceted nature. God breathed life into the cosmos as the Creator, fashioning galaxies, stars, and our own vibrant planet Earth. Like a patient farmer, God tends to the fertile fields of the human heart, sowing seeds of hope, love, and compassion. Just as a farmer nurtures crops from seedlings to harvest, God guides us through seasons of growth, pruning away our imperfections and cultivating a bountiful yield of virtue. And in our moments of deepest need, God, the Savior, extends a hand of grace, rescuing us from the depths of despair and leading us toward the light of eternal life. Therefore, we must understand that since everything emanates from God, none of it really belongs to us, and thus, in our ministry, we must be willing to give it all back.
Our focus must begin with an understanding that everything we have belongs to God, and because it all belongs to God, we must be willing to give it all back to God. In no way does God force us to do anything with our gifts because compulsion is a tactic of the world, not of God’s Kingdom. In essence, God shares with us, hoping that we, in turn, will share with others. Using our gifts to alleviate suffering, inspire hope, and foster a spirit of generosity, we actively participate in God’s plan to fill the world with His love and abundance. We become vessels of His grace, conduits through which His blessings flow to others, ultimately bringing glory to His name.
Elpis and Shalom 