Giving is the spirit of Heaven. Heaven was emptied for us that we might have its spirit of giving. But the enemy tries to find ways to prevent us from receiving this spirit of generosity. He tempts us to think we need more than we do. He gets us over-stressed with problems to depress us and causes us to lose that happy spirit. Sometimes he stifles the giving spirit by using others to get us angry.
Some people are in a dilemma. They have been giving to God’s cause for many years, investing their time, influence, tithes, and offerings in what seemed to them to be the place where truth would be upheld. But now they realize that false doctrine is being preached. Schools are teaching worldly philosophies and engaging in sports and other activities that God has forbidden. They see rock music flooding into worship services, worldliness pressing in all around them, with people they were taught to respect often leading out in it. When they protest these things, they are told to be quiet, or they get arguments that sidestep the question and leave them without hope of change for the better.
Sometimes people lose the heart to give because they have been alienated by those who they thought were going to do right. They become disconnected, losing the sense of message ownership that once gave them passion for the truth and their church.
Whatever you do, don’t lose the spirit of giving! Giving of yourself to someone else will lift your spirits. When you know that you have done something good for someone else or for the cause of God, you have the satisfaction of seeing your benevolence at work. This is vital to spiritual life and to a happy, well-balanced outlook. In Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you” because He knew how important is the spirit of giving and that all generosity comes back to bless the giver.
We all need to be connected to a worthy cause to inspire our giving. Many people find that faithful self-supporting ministries give them a sense of message ownership once again. They know that their gifts will not be wasted on the stock market, in drama programs, cartoons, clowns, et cetera, but that their gifts will be used wisely and efficiently. They feel a part of the cause again.
Thank you for your support and prayers for Hartland. Our vision—training young people to take the truth all over the world—can’t be fulfilled without God and you. You are definitely needed! Make the spirit of Heaven your spirit, too.
