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Giving is an important theme in the Bible. In both the Old and New Testament, children of God are asked to give.
We must give what we have and give to everyone who asks of us or those who need what we have.
One topic which many pastors have failed to teach properly is giving. Yes, we have, over the years, been teaching believers to give but we have not been boldly teaching them the specific group of people they must give to.
It is not everybody who needs to be given to. For instance, it is not proper for poor Christians to give the little money they have to rich pastors.
In most churches throughout the world, rich pastors ask and receive money and other material resources from poor Christians. This is bad.
Do not argue that Jesus Christ watched a poor widow give an offering (Luke 21:1-4). Understand that the poor widow did not give money to her rich pastor but she put it in the collection box for the whole congregation.
Of course, Elijah, the prophet, also demanded an offering from a poor widow of Zarephath during a famine season.
Here too, we need to understand that at that material moment, the widow was richer than Elijah. She had a little water, oil and a handful of flour. Elijah, on the other hand, had nothing; he was very poor materially (1 Kings 17:14).
God’s Word does not ask the poor to give to the rich or those who already have it. I know many people will not like this teaching because of the level of greediness in the Body of Christ today.
We know how the rich including some men of God twist the hands of the poor to take the little money they have. This happens because they are not content with what they have.
Men of God are cautioned not to be lovers of money or greedy. And God frowns on the poor giving to the rich.
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or GIVES TO THE RICH, will only come to poverty” (Proverbs 22:6).
“…when you give a dinner or banquet, DO NOT INVITE…YOUR RELATIVES OR RICH neighbours…” (Luke 14: 12- 14).
A poor Christian who gives to a rich pastor during his birthdays and other special occasions, thinking that by that he will be rich will continue to live a life poverty.
And a rich pastor who deceives a poor Christian to collect his money to enrich himself will appear to be wealthy in the sight of men. But he will be poor, wretched and pitiable in the sight of God.
By James Quansah
