Testing ‘the soil’ before ‘sowing’

I have followed your insightful presentation, richly illustrated with historical facts, of what New Testament Giving is not. My quest, as a Believer, is to determine what a Scripturally-based ‘giving policy’ should be.

The first part of our answer, last week, encouraged you to read for yourself 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 which deals extensively with the subject matter of acceptable giving in the New Testament (NT).

 Paul uses the analogy of what farming is all about—sowing and reaping—to illustrate NT giving when in 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV) he declares: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Let’s examine, at least in basic terms, how farming works. A farmer begins by choosing a good, suitable soil for the crop he wants to cultivate. Crops just don’t grow in every soil. There’s always the right kind of soil for every crop type; only weed grows in every soil. Certain crops only thrive in certain soils.

Secondly the farmer prepares the soil and finally takes proper care of the crop as it germinates. As a Believer who desires to give as outlined in the NT, you need to ascertain the quality of the ‘ground’ you are ‘sowing into’ by conducting some ‘soil tests’; this is by finding answers to pertinent questions such as:

• Is what is being done in obedience to God’s Word? God blesses what is in line with His Word. Does the organisation, church or ministry operate in line with the truth of the Gospel? (See Galatians 2:14 NIV)
• Are the promoters and leaders of the organisation prayerful, industrious, and efficient? The Bible is all out against indolence, wastefulness (like extravagance in any form) and slack. How much of what is raised goes into ‘administration’?
• Are they careful to do right not only in the sight of the LORD but also in the sight of people? (2Corinthians 8:21). Such steps will include, but not limited to, transparency (in activities) and accountability (good record-keeping, producing audited financial reports)
• Are they good and faithful stewards of money and people in God’s Kingdom? Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.  1 Corinthians. 4:2 (NIV)
• Is it fruitful? Is it bringing forth real fruits for the Kingdom?   “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit —fruit that will last.”  John 15:16 (NIV)
• Is the ministry, church, or organisation ethical in the way it appeals for, and handles, funds?

As an individual, you should be prayerful about your giving. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (MSG) reads: I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

‘Thinking it over and making up your mind’ requires you to be prayerful to avoid impulsive, emotional giving. There are people going around deliberately exploiting God’s people to get money, using questionable devices; the easiest group of people to exploit seems to be Believers.

Keep in touch with whatever individual or organisation you are supporting. As a partner of such an individual or organisation, you are a partaker of their grace. Get reports. Check on the fruit of their work.

Above all, operate within your level of faith. ‘Anything that is not of faith is sin’. If you are accustomed to thinking in terms of tens of naira, it will be unrealistic to imagine that you will suddenly start thinking hundreds of thousands of naira overnight. Grow your faith; this takes time. Faith comes by continuous hearing of the Word of God. There is an organisation called Faith Comes By Hearing that has produced the audio Bible in several languages of the world. You may freely download the Bible in your own heart language; load it on your iPod along with sound teachings that will nourish your faith.

As you take in God’s Word, look for instructions to obey (and OBEY them); attitudes to cultivate or let go; warnings to heed. Moreover, cultivate the habit of inculcating God’s Word into your day-to-day speech. Overnight growth tends toward faith-failure.

You can read about the plant that grew up in one night and disappeared the next in the fourth chapter of Jonah. It is progress to move from ten to fifty then to hundred. Avoid the pressure to jump up. If you jump up, you will still come down; but when you grow up, you stay up.

Don’t treat God as a business partner; He is your Father and has your best interest at heart.  He is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.  2 Cor. 9:10 (NLT)

Always remember: To plant and water is human; to make grow is divine (1Cor. 3:6)

Next:  The Cathedral versus the Community

====================

First published on 26 July 2009 in my Making Sense of Life column in The Nation on Sunday, a Nigerian newspaper.