LIBERALITY, AVARICE AND PARSIMONY (PART 1)

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

Matt 5:42 TLB  “ Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.”

Luke 12:33-34 TLB  “ Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will fatten your purses in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no rips or holes in them. Your treasures there will never disappear; no thief can steal them; no moth can destroy them.” 

   These scriptures do not in any way suggest the believer’s confinement to a life of penury for that will be contrary to God’s will ; He delights in the prosperity of His servants. The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich and does not add sorrow.  This was demonstrated in the life of Prophet Abraham ,he was blessed of God and became rich as a result  .His son Prophet Isaac was also a businessman who invested in agriculture, he enjoyed God’s blessings and Gen 26:12-13 TLB says  “that year Isaac's crops were tremendous-100 times the grain he sowed. For Jehovah blessed him.  He was soon a man of great wealth and became richer and richer.” God wants you very rich so that through your prosperity, His kingdom will spread on earth. The gospel spreads faster in prosperity than in poverty.

    In the old testament, places of worship were built through communal efforts Ex 35:21-23 TLB” Those whose hearts were stirred by God's Spirit returned with their offerings of materials for the Tabernacle, its equipment, and for the holy garments.  Both men and women came, all who were willing-hearted. They brought to the Lord their offerings of gold, jewelry-earrings, rings from their fingers, necklaces-and gold objects of every kind. “ They gave beyond what was needed Ex 36:5 “They went to Moses and reported, "The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!" they also brought offerings at the dedication of the place of worship (Nu.7:3)

     Offerings are a demonstration of one’s affection towards God  Kind David an entrepreneur and king  demonstrated this ,1 Chron 29:3-5 says  "And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.  I am donating more than 112 tons of gold( worth $7.2 Billion)  from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver ( worth $262 million) to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings..”  The same type of benevolence was demonstrated while repairing the place of worship after its destruction by the Babylonians Ezra 1:5-6 TLB Says “Then God gave a great desire to the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and to the priests and Levites, to return to Jerusalem at once to rebuild the Temple.  And all the Jewish exiles who chose to remain in Persia gave them whatever assistance they could, as well as gifts for the Temple.”

   In the new testament Jesus spoke of the benevolence of the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4 TLB “As he stood in the Temple, he was watching the rich tossing their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small copper coins.  "Really," he remarked, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them combined.  For they have given a little of what they didn't need, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has." GOD IS AGAINST MANIPULATING OR COERCING PEOPLE INTO GIVING OFFERINGS.IT MUST BE BY FREE WILL. The early church eradicated poverty through the liberality of the brethren  Acts 4:34-37 says ” …and no poverty-for all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.   For instance, there was Joseph (the one the apostles nicknamed "Barnabas, the encourager"! He was of the tribe of Levi, from the island of Cyprus).  He was one of those who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need.”    Poverty is man-made : the result of dishonouring  God Prov 3:9-10 AMP“ Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; [Deut 26:2; Mal 3:10; Luke 14:13,14.] So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. [Deut 28:8.] “

   As you receive Jesus Christ as lord and savior receive grace for uncommon financial breakthroughs that would transform you into an instrument of poverty alleviation in Jesus name.

Prayer /counseling +2348098536911,+2348035536911 email:michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
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