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Bible Question: What
does the Bible say about planting a seed in the right ministry
and what verses back it up? How are we blessed by our offerings
and what verses back it up?
Bible Answer: The
concept of being able to "seed a ministry" and receive
a hundred or any other fold back in financial gain is not biblical.
The nearest statement to this concept is found in 2 Corinthians when
the Apostle Paul says,
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There
is no need for me to write to you about this service to the
saints . . . Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also
reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his
heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver . . . Now he who supplies seed to
the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase
your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous
on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result
in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is
not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is
also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (NIV)
2 Cor. 9:1, 6-12 |
Before
we explain this passage, you might be interested in a study entitled, "Tithing
or Giving?
Sowing
Seed. The
above passage simply says that when we give to the saints, God will
bless us according to our gift. If we give little, God will give
us little. If we give much, then God will give us more. The apostle
is talking about giving to the saints, which includes pastors, missionaries,
and others. if we sow little we will reap little. If we sow more,
then we will reap more. God says that there is a principle in giving.
Does Malachi 3:8 imply that we are robbing God
when we do not give a tithe to Him?
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Will
a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, "How do
we rob you?" In tithes and offerings. (NASB) Malachi
3:8 |
The
answer is found in the study entitled, "Tithing
or Giving? Tithing was actually taxation in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament God has changed the rules and only asks us to
give as we desire. But the divine principle of sowing and reaping
is still there.
Reaping. What
do we reap? We can reap money, but that is not the only possibility.
As the apostle said in 2 Cor. 9:10-12, there is a reward in righteousness
and thanksgiving to God by others who receive your gift. There are
other rewards also. Here is one example of a reward where God reaps
the benefit of our sowing.
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I
planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters
is anything, but God who causes the growth. (NASB) 1 Corinthians
3:6-7 |
God
also tells us that because our pastors have sown spiritual blessing,
they should reap a financial blessing. The Apostle Paul did not take
any money from the Corinthians, but he did teach them this principle.
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If
we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if
we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this
right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all
the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary,
we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of
Christ. (NASB) 1 Corinthians 9:11-12 |
Conclusion: But
the concept of receiving back a certain amount of money because you
have given to the correct ministry is not biblical. God only talks
about giving to other individuals and to your church. There is a
great risk in giving money, time, or effort to someone or some organization
that you do not really know and cannot watch. When a person gives
to an organization or to missionaries they cannot see or observe
week after week, there is a greater risk that they may be contributing
to an individual who is a false teacher, immoral, or unbiblical in
his activities. However, it is important to give to our missionaries
in order that they may preach Christ to other cultures. It is best
to regularly commmunicate with them in some way in order to know
them. Here is the biblical principle.
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Do
not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share
in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. (NASB) 1 Timothy
5:22 |
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