But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
When we talk about spiritual practices, somebody can ask, ‘how does giving comes in or what role does giving play exactly in answering the prayers of the believer’? Many Christians who lack maturity will put prayer, bible study and fasting ahead of giving. But prayer has its role and giving has it role in solving the needs of the believer. If the believer prays a lot and his money problems are not solved, he must check his giving. If his giving is good and he’s still not seeing results, he should check his services and the way he offers them.
The verse of scripture explains that, if the believer gives today and decides not to give tomorrow when he has or decides to give little when he has more, he sees little in his financial life. How does the believer’s giving play a role in answering his prayer when indeed what he requires may only demand prayer? In times past, giving was taken out of the elements that answers the believer’s prayers. With time, it’s been established that some praying people do not give.
It been observed that prayer warriors have been deceived into thinking that, prayer alone answers needs. If the warrior is trained from a home or society that is stingy, it can be ingrained. It makes his giving to God more difficult. This may be the reason people will go around praying throughout and expecting results. But if you pray and not give at all, it is a problem. If it gets to a place where the believer must give more and gives less, it can affect the magnitude of blessing he receives.
Can you imagine when you pray and add an offering, you’re adding a catalyst to move God’s hand to answer the prayer speedily. The devil knows that giving is difficult because money represents the sweat of people. And so people find it difficult to add their money after prayer because it is difficult to make money and so many believers like to keep their money, pretending that, prayer alone must provide answers. The devil fears givers in God’s house because it is the believer’s money that defeats the devil. Why? Money is controlled by mammon spirit and so God says, give me a tenth of the money you earned from this world of Satan that enables your flesh to survive and I will protect you and your money. When you pray which is spiritual and you add money, you are actually killing the devil because you’re using his weapon against him. This is how the believer’s hedge is protected. When you give, you secure your finances, your home, your family, your property and everything that belongs to you.
The devil must not have any grounds to accuse you so the believer must give with a cheerful heart. Give but give with a cheerful heart. This is the standard. Remember the devil told the Almighty there is a hedge around Job and had to provoke God to remove the hedge. The devil did not have anything to accuse Job of because he was a righteous man and constantly gave to God on behalf of his family. And so Job’s giving kept the hedge of God around him. If you want the hedge to remain, give continually to God. If you’re generous before God, you will be generous towards men.
