Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Have you ever raised farm animals? Giving in the church is very much like feeding a flock. We used to have goats, and I would always feed them a big round bale of hay. But when you take care of them, they take care of you by providing you with milk to drink. So, you see, the blessing goes both ways. If your horse is pulling a heavy carriage for you, wouldn’t you provide for its needs? You would obviously feed and water them, and finally put them in the barn for the night. The church is the same way, because as the sheep of God are fed with Spiritual food, the sheep in turn should provide for the carnal needs of the preacher. God blesses the ministers for feeding the sheep, and then He blesses the church for their bountiful gifts.
1 Corinthians 9 ⁷ Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ⁸ Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? ¹⁰ Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? ¹² If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? ¹⁴ Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Men who preach the Word of God can reap money or other temporal possessions for what they do. Sometimes many people in the world dont like it when a preacher receives free gifts, or handouts as they sometimes call it, but his service is ultimately a free gift of Spiritual knowledge to the church. People will exchange gifts on a special occasion, so what would be the difference? Paul was a very humble man who preached even when he had nothing at all, but this was because He loved the Lord and the teachings of scripture. Paul’s life and studies were a free gift to the church, and the right thing to do was help him out financially. When you think about it, God gave us this entire world for FREE, and He is the most generous giver that there is. He even sent His only begotten Son Jesus, who freely gave His own life for us all on the cross for our sins.
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15
Remember that Moses walked away from all the treasures in Egypt, because His greatest treasure was God, but their are others who are seeking after Earthly riches instead. In that state, they get filled up with the comforts and pleasures of this world, and become blinded to the reality of their own sinfulness. Scriptures teach them to invest in the things of God in order to find the true riches in Christ,…which is the wisest investment that you could ever make.
Revelation 3 ¹⁷ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ¹⁸ I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Matthew 13 ⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: ⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
A poor widow gave everything that she had to the things of God.
Luke 21 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.
Jesus and the Apostles were giving of their wisdom freely to the public, and those who have grown in Spiritual knowledge have a duty to minister back to them with carnal gifts, whatever those might be.
Romans 15 ²⁶ For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. ²⁷ It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
But just like in any garden, you are only going to receive back for the seed that you have planted. Just as a preacher sows many Spiritual seeds, the church can reap back that blessing by planting the gift of financial seeds.
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. 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. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ⁹ (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. ¹⁰ Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ¹¹ Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Can you think of twenty things that God gives you each day, that are completely free? Will you thank Him for His kindnesses? Freely you have received, freely give. So whether its a preacher helping you to grow in your faith, or the church giving back to his work,…its all a matter of….
…….. Bountiful Giving
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 