Does God have a
reward and withhold economy? Does God reward those who do well and withhold
blessings from those who do not? Plenty
of texts say that yes, indeed, God does reward faithfulness in giving. Proverbs 11:24-25, “Some give freely, yet
grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. A
generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.”
Despite these passages, within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and
similar churches, there’s a resistance to this tradition suggesting God blesses
those who give and withholds from those who do not. In recent years we have seen the abuses of
prosperity gospel. By contrast, we have
elevated the notion of altruism (giving with no expectation of return). It’s possible that we haven’t done a very
good job talking about the blessing of giving.
There is some helpful teaching the Apostle Paul gave
to the Church in Corinth. We find it in
2 Corinthians 9:6-12. Paul was making an
appeal to the church in Corinth about the collection
for the home Church in Jerusalem. Paul
relied on a familiar biblical sowing and reaping metaphor, “Those who plow evil
and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:8). “The wicked earn no real
gain, but those who sow righteousness
get a true reward” (Proverbs 11:18)
“Whoever
sows injustice will reap calamity, and
the rod of anger will fail” (Proverbs 22:8) “For they sow the wind, and they
shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).
Paul wrote, “one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” He was not making promises for God out of
thin air but stood within a biblical tradition
Paul stressed the importance of discernment in
giving and wrote, “each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not
reluctantly or under compulsion.” The often enforced notion that we owe a tithe
(10% of income) is not expressed in this passage. Rather, Paul emphasizes that discernment
about giving is situational and personal.
Again, Paul stood within a biblical tradition Exodus 25:2 says, “Tell
Israelites to take for me an offering; from all whose hearts prompt them to
give you shall receive the offering for me.”
There is a prompting and a decision-making that each person is to
give. Paul then moved to stress a
principle, “for God loves a cheerful giver.”
I’ve always cringe a little when I hear that. I’ve known some very generous but not so
cheerful giver. I’m pretty sure God
loves them too. Again, Paul stresses
ideas that are included in scripture.
Deuteronomy 15:10 says, “Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do
so, for on this account the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and
in all that you undertake” We are instructed that it is both the gift and the
attitude that affects the way God responds.
What follows in this passage of scripture is further emphasis on what
God will do in response to their giving. It will produce
This passage’s
emphasis is not that you should neglect your own needs, concerns or happiness
for the sake of others. “Give till it
hurts” is not a biblical concept. “Give
enough that the giving brings you joy” comes closer to expressing the thoughts
of this passage. We have focused so
thoroughly on the condemnation of ostentatious giving that we sometimes fail to
acknowledge that giving has ripples (a) creating thanksgiving within the lives
of others; (b) reciprocating prayers in others on behalf of givers; (c)
generating a reputation of good works within the church; (d) offering a
testimony of God’s goodness to the world.
Giving opens up a two way street.
It enables us to reach places we might never be able to go in
person. It also brings blessings our way
that cannot reach us any other way.
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