We are coming to the end of this series. This work is not just about encouraging people to give. It encourages Christians, those genuinely born again to give. It is a series about Heaven and Christian giving. Only Christians, true Christians i.e. saved souls and holy lives give to God acceptably. The sinner is to give his soul with its sins to God before he or she can give to God. And the work encourages the sinner to do this most important thing. To encourage sinners to give to God is actually telling men to give to feed the lust of ministers.
Let’s not love the world like the children of this generation. Let’s not the mammon of unrighteous controlling the world or children of this generation turn our hearts from God or make us turn away from sound doctrine unto fables. The Church is not competing with the world in riches. Heaven: ‘You cannot eat your cake and have it’. You cannot get the world and have heaven. You cannot serve both God and mammon.
The Church is a spiritual movement consisting of pilgrims walking their way through this world and commanded to use things of this world sparingly and even such things as God Himself promised to add unto them as they keep on with the pilgrim’s walk i.e. as they seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and that when God decides to give to a particular pilgrim or group of pilgrims it is for the purpose of channeling or playing the caretaker to the intent that none, including the caretaker himself, has neither too much nor too few. Things given truly by God, and not by Satan the god of this world, are supposed to be for His household, in which case just what is truly needed for the heavenly walk as defined by the spirit and not the flesh is supposed to go to each man.
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” – Acts 4:32-35.
To hoard these things is abusing them; to hold more than necessary while others lack is abusing them. “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away” – 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.
And when the fashion, form and way of the world in doing things (a fashion, form and way being sadly promoted and lived by some in the church) passes away or is over these things will be reckoned as cankered, and then a fearful awaiting of judgment.
Therefore, “… seeks you great things for yourself? Seek them not…” – Jeremiah 45:5. And therefore, “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways” – Haggai 1:4. We are commanded to consider our ways.
God-centered living, other-centered living must have a huge place in our lives after salvation. The Great Commission, the holy brethren who have hazarded their lives in very difficult mission fields, and the holy and zealous brethren here and there facing persecution and being denied the necessities of life and those sincere brethren in our midst must know of God’s provision with us. Let us be faithful stewards and good caretakers that will render good account to our God someday.
Properly gotten wealth or riches properly used, channeled or distributed links with our making eternity with God. Giving helps believers to lay hold on Eternal Life. Used already in this series, we must necessarily reiterate 1 Timothy 6:17-19: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; THAT THEY DO GOOD, THAT THEY BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO DISTRIBUTE, WILLING TO COMMUNICATE; LAYING UP IN STORE FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD FOUNDATION AGAINST THE TIME TO COME, THAT THEY MAY LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE” (Emphases are mine). That they may lay on eternal life!
As we get to the end of this work we must remind that this is a series on Christian giving and Heaven. It is about getting from God and giving back to God, His work and His people. It details also the proper way or ways to give; ways acceptable to Him. It is not an encouragement for laziness for the Scriptures have no place for this. For this purpose we added “Admonition concerning Disorderliness & Busybodies” to this series. We are all supposed to work and get from God to be able to give to God and for His purpose; a most rewarding endeavor to be engaged in.
Like we said in “Being that Faithful and Wise Steward”, we can never get enough if we allow the flesh to dictate our wants. The flesh is insatiable. By the flesh we can gain the whole world and we are just starting to accumulate; and by it therefore many have sadly lost their souls to eternal fire of hell. But if we allow the spirit to determine our needs, then others would inevitably meet with their needs as well. We said there:
“And as we do this we are building up our true riches in Heaven. When the Landlord comes, and takes stock, and we are found faithful, then the true riches that no man can canker, that flesh cannot rubbish, and that are truly ours shall be ushered into our eternal embrace. Eternal riches, eternally the individual’s! Proverbs call them durable riches, and they are with God alongside righteousness: ‘Riches and honour are with Me; yea, durable riches and righteousness’ – Proverbs 8:18. Let us live on this side of eternity with a view of getting those true, eternal and durable riches.”
So, ‘let us live on this side of eternity with a view of getting those true, eternal and durable riches.’ This is the reason for prosperity now; this is the reason we receive now; and this is the reason we give now: Eternity, even eternity with God! After salvation, and as we live the holy life let’s remember therefore the unity of the brotherhood, unfeigned love of the brethren and godly sharing!
