You Can't Bribe God

 Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” -II Corinthians 9:7.

This is the Bible's simple instruction to Christians for giving, but it is not the emphasis of most churches today. Instead I keep hearing the line of prosperity teaching which claims, “If you give, you will get back more.” Didn't Jesus tell us that we CANNOT serve God and mammon? It can only be one or the other, not both. Mammon is money, or material riches.

What things can be given to God that He did not create? And if we belong to Jesus Christ, why should we be seeking after wealth just like the unconverted world?

Jesus lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, “Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” in Luke 6:20. Then in Luke 6:24 He said, “But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation.” It should be clear from this that a Christian's reward is salvation, and an eternity with God in Heaven.

So do we really receive from God because we put money into an offering plate? Must we give to get, as some claim? One prosperity teacher stated that when we give, it's like having a receipt to show God, and He will be obliged to give what you ask for! Outrageous! The Bible says that “God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8. If we needed to give to get, then salvation would be of works, not grace. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” -Romans 8:32. Did you notice the qualifier of “freely” in that verse?

God says that He wants obedience, not our sacrifices in I Samuel 15:22. Jesus also said that after we had fully obeyed His instructions, we should consider ourselves to be “unprofitable servants”; we will have done that which is our duty to do; Luke 17:10.

So now church leaders often try to induce their congregations into giving by saying that their money will cause God to bless them with more riches; and if they don't give, they can't expect God to bless them. This is NOT the message of grace. The apostles knew better...

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”-Acts 8:20,21.

Has the Holy Spirit led you in your giving, or are you trying to manipulate God by your giving? There is nothing new under the sun, Ecclesiastes 1:9. God has promised to supply all of our needs because of His mercy through Christ Jesus His Son; Philippians 4:19. Attempted bribery gets you nowhere, because all that you have has already come from the goodness of God. James 1:17.