Finances and Business

The Benefits of Spirit Led Giving

1. Foundation Scriptures:

Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

2 Corinthians 9:6, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

Galatians 6:6 - 10, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

2. Introduction

A. God wants us to prosper

3 John:2, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

It is clear from Scripture that it is God's will for His people to prosper. He not only wants us to be spiritually and emotionally prosperous, but He wants us to prosper financially so we can take care of our families as well as spread the Gospel.

Psalm 35:27, "...Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

Job 36:11, "If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures."

Zechariah 1:17, "...Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem."

Deuteronomy 8:18, "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."

B. God is raising up His Church as a giving Church - to fund the Harvest

Philippians 4:15, "Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."

2 Corinthians 9:1 - 15 (Read the entire chapter)

It always amazes me how Christians expect their Pastor or Local Church to do the work of the ministry with no finances. When someone says they live by faith believing God to supply their needs, somehow in the minds of Christians they are now exempt from supporting the work of God with their substance.

In our own situation we have rentals to pay for our offices, we have to pay the staff who work for us, the vehicles used to do the work of the ministry need fuel in their tanks and their engines need to be serviced regularly. We have office equipment that need maintenance, stationery needs to be printed, etc.

None of the above will be possible if we did not have finances. It costs money to preach the Gospel, even though the Gospel itself is free.

In South Africa where I live, water is free. However, I have to pay a monthly fee to our local civil authorities for the maintenance of the pipes that bring the water to my home, and the maintenance of the water purification plant.

The Gospel is free, but to bring it to people who are in need costs money. It is the job of the Church of Jesus Christ to fund the preaching of the Gospel. 

C. God is raising up Ministries of Finance within the Church

Many Christians in the Church today do not realize what they are called to do. Not everyone is called into the ministry as a Five-fold pulpit ministry (1 Cor 12:29; Eph 4:11). Some are called to pray, some are deacons and elders, others serve in the Church through the ministry of helps, and yet others are raised up as ministries of finance.

The ministries of finance I am speaking of are people called by God to raise finances for the Kingdom. Men and women who are not satisfied to just place an offering in the basket on Sunday morning, but people who want to raise millions so the Gospel can be preached across their nations and the world.

These men and women are the ones who will generate the resources to start Christian Radio and Television Stations, Christian Banks and Finance Houses, Chritian owned Malls and much more. These are the men and women who will finance the planting of Churches, Bible Schools and Training Centers.

Maybe you are one of those?

D. Scriptural giving must be done in accordance with the Word and the Spirit

Giving must be done in accordance with the Word of God. Believers must give their Tithes to their Local Church as well as give offerings according to the leading of the Lord to those whom He points out.

Jesus is very interested in our giving. In Luke 21:2 we read how Jesus was watching people bringing their offerings. It is significant because many of us simply put our money in the offering basket as if no-one is watching us. Jesus is!

In Acts 10:1-4 we see how an unbeliever (Cornelius) continues to honour God with his finances and in verse four it says that these offerings came up as a "memorial" before the Lord.

If God attaches so much value to the offerings of an unbeliever, how much more does He value the giving and offerings of His children?

When we know that God is watching our giving, we must of necessity do it Scripturally and to the best of our ability!

3. How do we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in our giving?

A. His Word cannot fail. It cannot return unfulfilled. We must accept it as infallible!
(Isaiah 55:8 - 11; 2 Timothy 3:15-16)

The first way we are led by the Holy Spirit in our giving is to obey the Word. The Word tells us to give. Therefore we obey the Word and we give.

A thundering voice from heaven to tell us to give is not necessary, although the way some Christians live it will probably take a thundering voice from heaven to get them to do something.

B. There are three witnesses that agree (1 John 5:7; John 14:21; John 15:14; John 17:14)

God and His Word are One. The Word tells us that when we obey His Word, we love Him and He calls us His friends. Jesus goes so far as to say that when we obey Him He will manifest Himself to us.

This means that by simply obeying Him in our giving, we are His friends and he will manifest Himself to us.

C. Jesus is the Living Word (John 1:1, 14)

Jesus is the Living Word and when we walk in His Word we are manifesting Him and we bring His power into manifestation on the earth.

This is even more true when we yield our finances to Him because the Word tells us in Luke 16:11 that He will entrust us with the true riches of the Kingdom.

D. We are His Friends if we do what he says (John 15:14)

4. We must be Willing and Obedient

A. If you have received Him, you have the power to become a son of God (John 1:12)

When you are born again of the Spirit of God, you receive the power to grow into a mature son and daughter of God. This does not take place automatically but happens as we walk with Him in faith and obedience.

Heb 5:13 - 14 tells us that, "For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

One of the ways we become a "son" of God is by obeying Him in our giving.

B. Sons of God are Spirit led (Romans 8:14)

Part of the process of growing into mature sons of God is to be led by the Spirit of God. When the Spirit leads us in our giving, he is grooming us as sons.

We must learn how to follow the leading of the Spirit so we can grow spiritually and in our giving.

C. We must be willing and obedient (Isaiah 1:19)

One of the most basic conditions to enjoy God's prosperity in our lives and finances is to be obedient to His Word. He says in this verse we will "eat the good of the land" if we obey.

Obedience with our finances will unlock His blessing.

D. We must put the Word into action (Luke 6:46)

We should not even attempt to call Him our Lord if we are not prepared to do what He says, especially when it comes to our material substance and finances.

To put the Word into action is to act out the Word. In other words, if the Word tells us to lay hands on the sick so they can be healed, we do it. If the Word tells us to give our finances, we do it because God and His Word are One.

5. Principles of Spirit led Giving in the lives of Believers

A. We must work hard; (Romans 12:11; Eph 4:28; 6:5-8; Col 3:22-24; 1 Thes 2:9; 4:11, 12; 2 Thes 3:8-12)

Lazy Christians cannot expect to be blessed by the Lord. God will reward faith that is coupled with hard work. It is also important that we not only work hard, but we must work smart so we do not waste God's time and resources.

To work smart we need to trust Him for His Wisdom to manifest in our lives. Wisdom is the God given ability to apply our knowledge practically at any specific time when a specific situation or need arises.

Many Christians are "jealous" of unbelievers because many of them are exceptionally prosperous.

When we look closely at the way many unbelievers conduct their lives, we find that they work extremely hard and apply the wisdom and knowledge they have gleaned through study and from listening to experienced businessmen and women.

B. We must pay our debts (Romans 13:6-8)

It is important for us to pay our debts. Many believers owe people money and never make any arrangements to settle these debts. This causes strife and bitterness and the Bible tells us that where there is strife there will also be every evil work (James 3:16).

No one should be able to fault us or find any unethical conduct with regards to our finances. This also includes any moneys owed the Revenue Services (Taxes).

C. We have a duty to support those who preach the Gospel (Rom 15:25-27; Gal 6:6)

From my experience over the years and the Preachers I've met, I know that many who are in ministry have suffered and continue to suffer greatly because they cannot make ends meet financially.

I am in contact presently with a minister who has been pastoring for forty years, yet at the age of almost seventy, he and his wife still have to try and hold down jobs as well as pastor those under their care.

Another minister who has a very prominent prophetic ministry both in South Africa and internationally, and who has also been in ministry for close to forty years, also has to keep working at his job because his congregation members have not yet learnt to be faithful in their giving.

What makes this particular situation so shameful to me is that in this man's congregation there are people who earn in one month what my Pastor friend earns in a year, and yet they cannot "afford" to be faithful in their giving.

We must become willing as Christian Believers to support the work of the Gospel financially with joy and cheerfulness;

2 Corinthians 9:7, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

D. Ministers have a right to be supported (1 Cor 9:4-15; 1 Tim 5:17, 18)

In verse 14 of 1 Corinthians 9 we read, "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel".

I do not think we can get it clearer than this.

I have friends who have preached the Gospel in war zones. I myself have had to go into areas where people have no water or electricity, and where they are living on the bread-line.

Ministers not only have to carry the costs of four-wheel-drive vehicles to get to such places, but they also carry the cost for feeding and clothing these people.

Click HERE to view a photo of Pastor Joel Sindane collecting food for his church.
To view a photograph of a church in rural South Africa where there is no electricity or running water, click HERE.

E. Giving must be motivated by Love (1 Cor 13:3)

In all of our giving our motive must be our love for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 13:3 is clear that even though we may be supporting those who are poor, etc., if our motivation is not the Love of God, we are wasting our time. 

I believe that if our hearts are truly filled with the Love of God, our hearts will automatically compel us to sow financially into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was always moved with compassion, and I believe if we are filled with Godly compassion we will be moved to action with regards to our finances.

F. Give consistently and systematically (1 Cor 16:1, 2)

These verses show us that we must plan our giving carefully. For our faith to work consistently, we must have a Godly plan of giving and storing up in our heavenly bank account.

Proverbs 30:25 reads, "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer". This means that even the ants prepare in the prosperous times and store up for the lean times.

When we give consistently, we can trust the Lord to provide for us and reap us a harvest on our giving all year round. This means that we should never have to lack.

Ecclesiastes 11:1, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."

G. All believers must give together (2 Cor 8:14, 15)

When we give together, our combined financial resources make a much greater impact and through our combined giving we can actually make a difference in the lives of people and in society.

Leviticus 26:8, "And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword."

H. The Bible teaches the Law of Sowing and Reaping (2 Cor 9:6-8; Phil 4:14-19)

In Genesis 1:11 - 12 the principle of seed producing after its own kind is illustrated. This is also true when we sow financial seed into the good soil of the Kingdom of God.

Financial seeds will produce a financial harvest.

I. We must give to the poor (2 Cor 8:9, 10; Prov 19:17)

In 2 Corinthians 8:9 the words "rich" and "poor" refer particularly to material wealth.

Yes, we can say that Jesus became spiritually poor so we could be spiritually prosperous, yet, He ministered as someone who was spiritually prosperous. He had to be spiritually prosperous to meet the needs of the people whom He ministered to.

However, compared to heaven and what He had before coming to earth, Jesus became "poor" materially. He gave up His wealth and riches in order for our material needs to be met.

Many people say that Jesus was poor when he ministered on earth. Yes, compared to heaven's riches he may have been, but a man does not need a treasurer (Judas) to conduct the financial affairs of a ministry when there is a severe lack.

John 13:29 reads, "For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor."

This verse illustrates that Jesus had such a reputation for giving they thought when Judas left the building late that night he was going to feed the poor!

If these disciples thought that Judas was going out to give to the poor, then there must have been something in the bag to give because poor people do not pay for their goods.

What a reputation! May we have the same in our own lives and ministries.


Yours in His Love and Anointing

Jan van Rooyen

Click HERE to download as an eBook

Previous Page | Top of Page


© 2000 - 2024 RAIN International SA
P.O. Box 648 - Edenvale - South Africa - 1610
Contact RAIN International South Africa
Website Maintained by JvR Online Marketing SA