Return in Giving!
"When you give you will receive!" This is always being taught in churches and is almost a religious cliché. People mostly take this as a catch for religious organizations to gather bigger funds. Some church people termed an intensive teaching of this as "Prosperity Gospel." When a preacher speaks almost always about giving saying that the good Lord will bless you, so if you wanted to be blessed give, give and give. On this teaching, the blessings to be received become the motivation to give rather than Compassion and an issue of Faith, which are supposedly the main reason why we should give! In this post I'd like to share with you two stories which made me realize that when you give from compassion and a test of faith, it is just but natural for God to open the windows and gates of heaven to pour His blessings! Story 1: Last Saturday I was on my way to my regular Bible Study group. While crossing the busy crossing of Buendia and Taft Avenues a certain lady ran after me asking for a favor, 'she lost her wallet' she has to go home to Lucena and if I can spare some amount she will be very thankful. I don't like it and it has been my practice not to give to any bum in the street, rather I give to institutions. Besides, as a pastor, in the stage of our church life now, I am only provided a weekly budget. But that day I heard an inaudible voice telling me to give her so I did, putting away the thought, "Kukulangin budget ko for my meal until tomorrow." After our Bible Study, the members of our group gave an offering that is 4 times the amount of what I gave to the needing woman. God did His promise! Story 2: Yesterday I went to a church leaders' accountability group. The practice in that group was to share something on the food, I thought of sharing the drinks, again from a limited budget. During the talk time I was introduced by the leader to a lady-pastor who was recently widowed, left with two young boys, one is autistic. My heart poured out for her! I cannot imagine her dilemma on taking care of two boys alone and leading a church at the same time! Knowing the insurmountable challenges of leadership - it is a big bulk of responsibility! Out of compassion once again, I took out some amount and gave her, feeling sorry because I knew it was very meager comparing to her needs! Then while the meeting was still going on my cell phone alarmed an incoming text message. When I checked on the message, it was inquiring "how should I give tithes to your church?" Last night I called the one who inquired. If you are interested how much she will give - it was 40 times more than the amount I gave the needing widowed pastor and the amount of the soft drinks I bought for the church leaders! It was a witness to God's faithfulness when we give out of Compassion and a test of Faith - He will pour us blessings in 'a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over' (Luke 6: 38)