31 Faith-Building LessonsSample
LESSON 27
Giving: The Essence of Living
I am convinced that this generation is going to be known as the GLORIOUS CHURCH. God is revealing principles in His Word in these last days that will enable His people to prosper so abundantly that they will finance the great revival that will take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Divine prosperity will come as a result of totally dedicating and consecrating our lives to the will and purpose of God. DIVINE PROSPERITY WILL COME AS WE LIVE TO GIVE.
John 3:16 reveals to us not only an important aspect of God’s character but also a vital principle of life for the believer. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God SO LOVED that He GAVE; He gave His Son for all mankind. Notice that giving is the result of loving.
In Mark chapter 10, Jesus promised that whoever would give for His sake or the Gospel’s would receive a hundred- fold return in this life. He was not speaking of a get-rich-quick scheme. Jesus was referring to a lifestyle - not just giving a portion of one’s life but the giving of one’s all for the Gospel’s sake. Money and possessions are only a part of life. You cannot give one part of your life, refuse to make Jesus Lord over the rest, and expect God’s principles to work for you. GOD WILL NOT ACCEPT A DIVIDED HEART FROM HIS PEOPLE. You cannot serve two masters. Jesus wants all of you.
17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these I have observed from my youth.
Mark 10:17-20
That is the reason this man was rich. You need to understand why he was wealthy – he had kept the commandments of God. In Deuteronomy chapter 8, God promised that anyone who observed and hearkened diligently to His voice would be blessed. That is why this man was made wealthy; God had honored his obedience and made him wealthy.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up they cross, and follow me (Mark 10:21).
Notice that this man pleased God except for one thing. In fact, the Word states that Jesus loved him, but He knew that there was an area of his life that needed correction. Jesus said, Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor. Jesus is trying to get a principle across to this man. He is telling him, “GO AND GIVE.”
Look at verses 22 and 23: 23And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
This verse has often been misinterpreted. People say, “See, the rich can’t make it to heaven.” That’s foolish. Verse 24 says: And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
There is the key – DON’T TRUST RICHES! That’s the reason the rich man was sad and grieved. He was trusting in his riches. He had kept the Covenant, and it had produced wealth in his life. God had richly poured out His blessings upon this man’s life. Rather than honoring God with his wealth, this man had begun to put his trust in it. His trust turned from God to his possessions.
Jesus had already taught that no man can serve two masters. At that moment, God was no longer the rich man’s Master – his riches were. You can see that is true because when Jesus said, “Go and give,” the man turned and went away grieved. His possessions possessed him.
Many people in the Church are missing God in the same way. Their possessions possess them. GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE THINGS, BUT HE DOES NOT WANT THINGS TO HAVE YOU! And Jesus continued:
25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mark 10:25-30
He is saying, “Give Me your all, and I will give you My all.” I cannot emphasize enough that the true secret to divine prosperity is giving yourself. THE VERY ESSENCE OF LIFE IS TO GIVE.
Jesus was saying to the disciples (and to us), “Go and give.” Giving is the very essence of living. When your whole life consists of giving, not getting, then divine prosperity begins to come and be a part of your life.
We can see that Jesus did not intend for His disciples to be poor. He told them that if they were faithful to the laws of God, they would receive a hundredfold of material possessions in their lifetime. There is a vital point that Jesus made to them that has been overlooked by many. Wealth and riches belong to the children of God. However, they are to be RECEIVED, not pursued. Attaining things is not to be the motivation of our lives or the inner drive of our existence. Jesus said that we are to receive, not pursue, the blessings of God. You are to pursue God and Him only. When He is first and foremost in your life and your whole existence consists of being His instrument and vessel, then you will live in divine prosperity.
I want to emphasize this again – THE CARDINAL LAW OF GOD IS GIVING. God is by nature a giver. God so loved that He gave, and we are to be just like Him. We are to be givers of ourselves. The very basic characteristic of our lives should be to give.
The Bible says that a man’s life does not consist of His possessions. The world has been deceived. That’s the way they measure a man’s worth. He is evaluated by his material possessions. That’s inaccurate. A man should be evaluated by how much of himself he gives.
Jesus issues a warning in the fourth chapter of Mark that once the Word is sown, Satan comes immediately to take away the Word that was sown in a man’s heart. He then lists five major avenues that Satan uses: affliction, persecution, the cares of this world, the lusts of other things, and THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES. If you are pursuing riches, then the devil has you deceived. You cannot afford to do that.
Paul also warns us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all evil. If you are pursuing wealth and riches, then you love them. Unfortunately, there are many so-called “faith people” coveting wealth and riches. Actually, they have erred from the faith; their priorities are out of order. We are not to develop our faith so that we can get things, but rather in order to be an instrument of God. Verse 11 tells us to flee from the love of money and the lust of things and to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. These are what we’re to pursue, not money.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17
Now, God has told me that He will change the financial status of those in the Body of Christ who will believe Him and obey Him. Once the changes begin coming, it’s so easy to put your trust in the wealth rather than in the God Who gave it to you. Remember, it is God Who gives us the power to get wealth; it does not come by our own power or might.
Also, notice that verse 17 tells us that these riches are uncertain. God alone is eternal and does not change. Depression, inflation, and recession have a way of changing riches. But when you put your trust in God, regardless of what happens on earth, you are secure. Another very important point about God is made here: Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. You see, GOD IS NOT AGAINST YOUR HAVING RICHES. HE WILL GIVE THEM TO YOU. When? when you trust Him and stop pursuing riches and wealth.
Do you know why God wants you rich? It is so that you can do more. The wealthier you are, the more responsible you are to God. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, and ready to distribute (1 Timothy 6:18). God wants us to be ready to distribute all we have at all times. WE ARE TO LIVE TO GIVE.
Our lives are to revolve around giving. We’re to be just like God. He so loved that He gave.
In 2 Corinthians 8, the churches in Macedonia were having great tests and trials. Verses 1-4 say:
8Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Now, these people were in deep poverty. Yet, they were entreating Paul to let them give. They didn’t have money, but they had themselves. THEY GAVE THEMSELVES to minister to the saints. There is much that money cannot buy. It is not the answer when someone needs to hear, “I love you.” Money cannot express the love, attention, and affection people need. Sometimes, it’s not money that people need; they need to be told they are loved and appreciated. The church at Macedonia was in deep poverty, yet they begged the Apostle Paul to receive their gift – THEMSELVES. They had no money, but they told Paul that they would live by this principle of giving.
Ephesians 4:27-28 teaches us another important principle about giving. 27Neithergiveplace to the devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
God is saying that the reason we ought to be laboring with our hands is so we will have some seed to sow to someone who is in need. God’s best is far more than we’ve imagined. It is important that the Body of Christ get to the place where their paychecks are not going to meet their own needs but rather the needs of others. God sees our lives being sustained by the super abundance He causes to come to us. God wants us working with our hands so that we will have to give to others.
Begin to realize that life is not getting, it is giving. Ephesians 6:5 tells us that we are to do the will of God from the heart. What is the will of God? Verse 7 tells us it is to go and give: With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. Begin to seek for avenues where you can give. Do not limit your giving to money only – first and foremost, God wants you to give YOURSELF. Then, you will truly be a follower of Christ.
About this Plan
These lessons represent many years of study, research, prayer, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The revelations that I shared in each lesson I have applied in my life and ministry for over fifty years. I have designed these, so you will have one lesson for each day of the month. At the beginning of a new month, go back to lesson #1 again. Repeat this every month for an entire year. Doing this will establish these principles firmly in your life.
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We would like to thank Jerry Savelle Ministries International for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.jerrysavelle.org