Anytime a preacher attempts to give proper bible interpretation to the subject of giving and receiving, he is often accused of being "critical" and "not wanting others to prosper".
Such blackmail doesn't work with me.
I teach giving extensively and exhaustively.
It is notorious. But I emphasize the truth of it.
If the truth won't make you prosper (which is ridiculous) then it's better not to live in a lie.
It's often said and believed that the reason for prosperity is giving.
Hence the doctrines for all sort of giving with testimonies accompanying them.
As a base rule for Christianity, never hinge biblical truth and its validity on human experiences, whilst our experiences testify, they don't authenticate.
I am a stickler for sane and scriptural interpretation of scriptures.
In bible interpretation, there are three key principles (amongst others) before laying a bible doctrine:
FIRSTLY, IS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPTURES AND CONSPICUOUS ENOUGH ALL OVER IT?
SECONDLY, IS IT WELL EXPLAINED, EXEGETED AND LAID DOWN?
The bible isn't a reference material but doctrinal, that is, it explains itself
2 Timothy 3:16 KJV
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The term "doctrine" means teaching, explanation.
THIRDLY, IS IT TRUE IN EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE.
I will recommend a teaching we have for your diligent study.
"HEALING AND MATERIAL PROSPERITY IN REDEMPTION". It will give you things to think upon. It’s on livingwordmedia.org
(You can also listen to FAITH IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND MATERIAL WEALTH; audio and book)
I will highlight a few very poignant facts here.
In the four gospels, Four Major rich men were discussed and none was credited for being a giver.
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THE YOUNG RICH RULER
Mark 10:22-23 KJV
[22] And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. [23] And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
He wasn't a giver.
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THE RICH MAN IN LAZARUS STORY
Luke 16:19,21 KJV
[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
[21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
He wasn't a giver.
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THE RICH FOOL
Luke 12:16, 20-21 KJV
[16] And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
[20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
[21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Obviously wasn't a giver.
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Jesus parable about giving clearly doesn't lend credence to such teaching as giving is what makes men prosper.
Luke 21:1-4 KJV
[1] And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2] And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3] And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: [4] For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
This is self-explanatory.
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JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA
Mark 15:43 KJV
[43] Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Obviously influential but not as a result of knowing Jesus, it was in his state of affluence that He met Christ.
Without Doubt the Pauline epistles don't lend credence to this too
I will cite two key scriptures
THE MACEDONIA CHURCH WAS PAUL’S EXAMPLE FOR GIVING.
2 Corinthians 8:1 KJV
[1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
He wrote to Corinth, a much more prosperous church to emulate Macedonia
2 Corinthians 8:2 KJV
[2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
YET MACEDONIA WAS EXPERIENCING POVERTY.
IT DEBUNKS THE THEORY THAT GIVERS DON'T LACK.
It's a lie.
Givers lack. But God supplies our needs.
A much more interesting one is the letter and instruction to Timothy.
1 Timothy 6:17 KJV
[17] Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
THIS IS FOR ALREADY WEALTHY BELIEVERS.
He is asking Timothy to teach them not to trust in investments, shares and landed property but in God.
Isn't that interesting?
But what does he mean?
1 Timothy 6:18 KJV
[18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
THEY SHOULD BE GIVERS!
Seriously? I thought that was the secret...
1 Timothy 6:19 KJV
[19] Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
FOR THE TIME TO COME. THE REWARDS OF GIVING IS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
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Jesus said this earlier in a different text
Matthew 6:19-20 KJV
[19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TREASURE FIRST BEFORE LAYING IT. He speaks of eternity.
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PAUL TEACHES INDUSTRY PREEMINENTLY IN HIS EPISTLES
Acts 20:34-35 KJV
[34] Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
[35] I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
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1 Thessalonians 2:9 KJV
[9] For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
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2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 KJV
[10] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11] For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
[12] Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
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Ephesians 4:28 KJV
[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
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THIS INCLUDES PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL, YOU MUST WORK HARD TOO IN PREACHING AND TEACHING
1 Corinthians 9:14 KJV
[14] Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
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And be so rewarded
1 Timothy 5:17-18 KJV
[17] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
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Galatians 6:6 KJV
[6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
That said.
WHY THEN DO WE GIVE? I have been asked this several times.
I give one basic answer, TO BREAK THE HOLD OF SELFISHNESS OVER OUR LIVES, COVETOUSNESS AND GREED!
Like I earlier recommended, get the teaching material "healing and material prosperity in redemption", it is exhaustive.
I believe in material prosperity.
I subscribe to believers enjoying this world’s riches and wealth and more importantly; purposely use it for the advancement of the gospel.
There is no Devil’s wealth.
1 Corinthians 10:26 KJV
[26] For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
…only devilish ways,
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The wealth of this earth belongs to our God.
He blesses even the unrighteous
Matthew 5:45 KJV
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
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That explains why unbelievers are rich.
Bill Gates according to scriptures is a fool, for he says "there is no God" alongside Warren Buffet etc.
But God blessed them.
Just like the rich fool.
Luke 6:35 KJV
[35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
God is kind to the ungrateful like Gates, Jobs and Buffet and their kind,
This shows Material Prosperity isn't a proof of faith or spirituality.
It's more preposterous to start merchandizing God’s blessings by asking people to sow for certain blessings like $91 for Psalm 91 blessings.
2 Peter 2:3 KJV
[3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Peter warns us here.
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Acts 8:20 KJV
[20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
God's blessings aren't for sale.
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Matthew 10:8 KJV
[8] ...freely ye have received, freely give.
The preacher must never sell God’s blessings.
This in no way scares us about wealth.
It's God’s will that we prosper;...
3 John 1:2 KJV
[2] Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
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Matthew 6:32 KJV
[32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
…Be healthy.
…Have to give to others.
Luke 5:7 KJV
[7] And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Give to the gospel.
But we mustn't see a sales purchase contract in this!
If many of believers can think they will know in practical terms the most - wealthy aren't Christians.
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We must never have such shallow judgements
James 2:1-2 KJV
[1] My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
[2] For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
WEALTH SAYS NOTHING OF YOUR SPIRITUALITY.
It could be industry, family inheritance, location, miracles, fraud, education etc., which we can find within scriptures.
But to associate wealth with sowing seeds is spiritual illiteracy and living in denial.
My late dad once told me "I couldn't believe the gospel of the Pentecostal for a long time because to tell me I need to be born again and start giving to preachers to prosper, it is an insult on my intelligence, not at my age"
It's very true.
Some unbelievers take some of our testimonies as a joke when compared with what they own and yet don't believe alike.
I function in the corporate world of business, so I can't "gawk" those lullabies.
Try next door.
We should present prosperity in scriptural terms and stop this casino made seed prosperity.
It's deceit and preacher "friendly".
And is a disservice to the truth of The Gospel which makes all of God’s blessings freely given and received.
TO DEAR YOUNG PREACHERS, DON’T ALLOW ANYONE THREATEN YOU WITH POVERTY IF THIS ISN'T YOUR CONVICTION.
They claim your ministry won't go global without these practices
There are several missionary organizations which reach millions without these tricks.
And many other churches in Nigeria too.
For example, Deeper Life Bible Church is in over 80 nations and none of these is found in its shadows.
Don't allow anyone intimidate you.
The Catholic Church has well over 1 billion members and arguably has more wealth than all other churches put together.
Facts speak for itself
Satan uses threats when he wants to manipulate.
God will prosper his work without gimmicks, fraudulent bible interpretation and manipulation.
And for those banding testimonies, it’s not about testimonies, the grace upon men God has called does miracles, the issue is they shouldn't merchandise the blessing. Simple.
I BELIEVE GOD, ALL YOUR MINISTRIES AND OURS WILL KEEP EXPERIENCING HIS PROVISIONS AND OVERFLOW.
Amen.
I call you blessed
