God's Got Your Back

God stands ready to give you open rewards!

A couple of months ago, during tax time, when we sent out donor statements to those who financially support my daily podcast, a supporter told me to never again issue him a tax deductible receipt at the end of the year. He seemed kind of mad. I told him that if the government offered a tax deduction benefit to those who give to a legitimate ministry, we should take advantage of it. He told me that he’s been giving in cash for years, because he only wants God to know what he gives, and not the government, or anyone else.

Many years ago, an older widow woman gave (what was for her) a large sum of money to my church (it was about $400). I went to her and told her that she couldn’t afford to give that much money, and handed her money back to her. She refused to take it and said something like, “Listen, my dear Pastor, me and God have something going on that you don’t know about, and He told me to give that amount and that He would multiply it back to me. So just mind your own business about how much I give, and don’t worry whether or not I can afford it.”

After getting that lecture of love-rebuke from a woman probably 30 or 40 years older than me, I found out that Jesus talks about this. Jesus said, “When you give, give in secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly” (see Matthew 6:1-4).

My wife and I have done both for many years. On our tax form, we do declare our tithes. Anything we give over and above our tithe, as an offering, we do it in secret, and God has faithfully supplied our every need for many years.

“Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you (with increase); good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom” (Luke 6:38).

God’s got your back!