GIVING: THE TRUE PICTURE

Andy sauntered into the architectural wonder. He could not miss the sea of heads for anything. The congregation was brimming as usual.

It was not out of place for the church to be filled to capacity during a Sunday service; it was completely understandable. The church was already in progress when Andy came in. He quietly took a seat beside an old lady.

When the offering time beckoned, the pastor mounted the pulpit as usual and wasted no time in quoting 2 Corinthians 9:6, “But this i say; he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”. Andy was least surprised. This had been the usual verse the pastor read each offering time.

The pastor continued, “If i were you, i will double the money you intend to give to God. The bigger the money you give to God, the more He blesses you.” He concluded.

“Andy watched the old lady beside her changed the denomination in her hand into a higher one. He began to feel guilty because he had the lowest denomination on him. Andy had skipped church service for some times simply because he had money for transport fare, but none for offering and walking the 5km distance between the church and his house could be suicidal.

Andy watched as others like the old lady rummaged through their pockets and handbags bringing out an ‘unprepared’ offering. As Andy lowered his offering into the offering bag, he felt thoroughly washed up in shame and came to an utmost conclusion that his offering was not accepted by God.

The issue of modern day Christianity teachings on giving to God is raising lots of highbrows by Christians alike and people of other faith. More questions are being raised than answers that are being given. The way preachers go about the teachings of giving gives the impression of selfishness and extortion of innocent, unsuspecting congregation. The church members give out of compulsion mixed with fear. People like Andy always feel sorry and guilty.

Let us take a look at the bible verse the preacher quoted; “but this I say; he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”. The keyword here is sparingly.

The Greek word, pheidomenos was translated to sparingly which means to be stingy. American heritage dictionary defines stingy as ‘giving or spending reluctantly’ and also ‘scanty or meager’.

The preacher gave the impression that the bigger the money you give to God, the bigger He blesses you and the other way round. What a wrong impression!

God does not judge us based on our monetary magnitude, (Luke 21:3) rather He judges us according to how much we give to Him out of how He has blessed us and also the attitude behind our giving. A multi-billionaire that gives in hundreds of thousands could be giving stingingly while a few hundreds from another person could be a generous giving. Those who are reluctant to give to God should expect the same from God because He gives us back with the same measure (attitude) we give (Luke 6:38).

Let us change our giving perception. We should not give to God based on sentiments, compulsions and out of fear; rather, our giving should be based on how God has blessed and prospered us, and in doing that, we should be cheerful about it, for in that, our giving will be meaningful and acceptable in the sight of God.