Giving is a touchy subject, and also a subject addressed many times in Scripture. It’s a subject on most pastor’s lips almost every Sunday, much to the dismay of a lot of people. It is something we need to understand, because giving should not become a burden enslaving us, or a law that puts us on a guilt trip. I prefer giving – the TOUCHY subject. See, my love language is ‘touch’, making it easy for me, as I show my love through touch. (Read ‘The 5 Love Languages) – Gary Chapman). At last, the penny dropped for me, but it may just be a drop of a bomb to many others…
I need to tell you that I am still prompted by the Spirit of God about sacrifice, offerings and LOVE. It’s been a month now. This time obedience is an additional aspect added to the list. These qualities are foundational for a faith-filled walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Which one of these would be more pleasing to God? Are they all the same? If we look into what the Bible says, it is clear that obedience is better than sacrifice. I am taking it another step further - to obey the Father, is to LOVE.
Let’s test this:
What is first reason why you would marry someone? LOVE.
Why did Jesus die on the cross? LOVE.
Why do you give to your loved ones? LOVE.
What is the first commandment we read about in the New Testament? LOVE.
1 Samuel 15:22 “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
I know I am putting my head on a block for saying this, but I found freedom at last. For almost 6 years after my divorce, I battled financially. I felt guilty for not giving more money to the church, etc. Then I read the following last week: “My son, give me your heart.” (Proverbs 23:26). Look, He does not say: “My son, give me your money. Know this – God is after our hearts, not our money.
It brings me to sacrifice. Sacrifice is a by-product of obedience. Obedience means “to hear” or “to listen”. Sounds a lot like ‘relationship’ to me – any relationship. Why did God bless Abraham? He passed the test of faith because of his obedience to God: “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”(Genesis 22:18)
When we give money, instead of giving love, do we give ourselves a pat on the back? Are we actually providing sacrifices to God, without obeying His Word? What is our motive? And what is the ‘obedience’ that the Lord requires?
Obedience is not a type of work that you need to do in order to be saved. We know that our salvation is by faith alone. It is crucial for us to remember and know that this obedience flows out of our love relationship and our transformation by the Holy Spirit in Christ. The answer to these questions, together with a promise, we read in John 14:21: “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him”. The concept of sacrifice has not passed away, real relationship with Christ demands it. Jesus Himself was the greatest example of this. Because of his love of the Father and His obedience to do the will of the Father, Christ offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the whole world.
Romans 12: 1 says “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Such sacrifices are an act of worship to the Lord. When there is no obedience and yet you come to the Lord and offer Him a sacrifice of praise, through your giving, but in your lifestyle you are being disobedient to the Lord, then this is not pleasing to the Lord. God would rather have your obedience than any of these outward signs of sacrifice and worship.
Proverbs 21:3: “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
Obedience and sacrifice goes hand in hand. When you see yourself as that sacrifice, it pleases God. You will realize that God has given you the gift of life, and gifts to share, and you will begin to analyze your motives of giving.
I have come across an article by Femi Aribisala and had a few new revelations: God’s love and forgiveness cannot be bought. God cannot be bribed. A requirement fulfilled without LOVE is inferior to one done in LOVE. An obligation done without love merely answers the call of duty. We cannot love without giving, but we can give without loving. I therefore encourage you to love and not just to give money, knowing that when we love, we will automatically give.
What God desires is love and not sacrifices. But religion insists on our sacrifices and not love. It is not about five keys and seven strategies for obtaining God’s favor. This is what God said to Hosea: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6), and then Jesus confirmed this: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13).
Let me ask again: what does God require of the believer? He wants us to love Him and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is how Jesus answered the religious: “The scribe said: ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” (Mark 12:32-34).
Be not deceived. Paying tithes and offerings will not guarantee anyone’s name in the Book of life, but it will certainly ensure your name in men’s good books. Don’t let your faith be shipwrecked by religion or religious acts. Sacrifices do not motivate God. God is love, therefore, He loves unreservedly. The Father looks at our hearts, not our purses or wallets. The day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we became God’s children – because of LOVE. Our hearts (the Holy Spirit inside) will guide our motives for giving. God does not need our money to build his church – He is self-sufficient. Is there one Scripture commanding children to pay tithes to their parents? What we are, is far more important to God than what we have.
I suggest you find your love language. It makes loving and giving easy. It makes LOVING a walk in the park…a walk with Jesus. I also suggest you find your own revelations from God regarding giving, as you should not follow me, but Jesus.
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