19. God is our source of supply, not people

If we don’t teach tithing, how can we motivate people to give? Paul’s solution to this apparent paradox was always to appeal to believers’ internal motivation, and never to try to enforce external rules. Throughout his Epistles, Paul continually appeals to the love of God that’s already in our hearts, our new natures which reflect God’s nature, and our freedom in Christ to choose willingly to give and serve (e.g. Rom 13:14, 2 Cor 8:8,24, Gal 5:13-14, Heb 10:24). He refuses to compromise these principles.

Even where Paul links giving with sowing and reaping (e.g. 2 Cor 9:6-8), his conclusion is not that therefore the people should try to give more, so that they can reap more back, but rather they should give what’s in their heart to give (verse 7). And he reassures them that as they do this, God will continue to provide them with all that they need, and to empower their ongoing service and giving (verses 8-11).

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:7-8)

But there is always the question that haunts every minister – what if the people still choose not to give? How will the needs of ministers and the ministry be supplied? The answer is that the same truths that work for individual believers also work for those with ministry responsibilities – make sure you are seeking first the kingdom, then simply ask in faith for your needs/wants, and then follow His specific guidance to you. God will always finance His own work.

Actually Paul addresses this issue in Philippians 4:10-13, although most people take verse 13 right out of context so that they miss Paul’s main point here altogether. In verses 11-12, Paul tells how he has learned to become self-sufficient, regardless of his level of financial or material support. In verse 13, he is saying, ‘I can still accomplish my calling regardless of whether the people give to me or not, because I’m not dependent on man for my supply; I’m dependent on Jehovah Jireh alone.’

Can not the God who supplied a sacrificial lamb for Abraham, who caused water to flow out of rocks, who fed his people for 40 years on food that fell from the sky, who fed Elijah on angel’s food, who turned plain water into high-quality wine and multiplied the loaves and fishes many times over, who directed Peter to find tax money in a fish’s mouth, who caused such a huge catch of fish that the nets couldn’t even hold it – can not He, Abraham’s El Shaddai , the all-sufficient one, be trusted to find some way to supply our need as well as the needs of our ministry? And enable us to accomplish all He’s called us to do, even if others around us do not seem to have the revelation of giving yet?

He who created the universe out of nothing, and sustains all life within it, Jehovah Jireh, God our provider – are not His unlimited resources sufficient for us? God can bring finances to us – that’s His responsibility; but He cannot directly bring His Word to or care practically for people – that’s our responsibility, and what we should remain focussed on.

As ministers, we should have the same attitude as Dave Roberson: I don’t want to stand before Him and hear Him say, “You limited yourself to limited men who limited me.” Even if no-one operates according to the law of conscience, I can still do it. When I stand before Him, I will not be able to say, “Those people had no conscience for giving.” He’ll say, “That may be true, but if you couldn’t get a camel train to come, it was your responsibility to move on to the loaves and fishes. You see, My supply is always there, and your inheritance is according to My riches in glory.”

(Dave Roberson - Newsletter April 2002)