You can’t.
Sorry.
Today I actually heard a Christian minister say:
If you give money to God, He’ll give money to you. NOT so we can get rich, but so that we can live generous lives & be a blessing to others!
Boy that sure makes us feel good, doesn’t it?
It’s a promise of getting money (which we all love) and it comes our way when we first give money to God.
Here’s the kicker – the part that makes us feel better about the whole exchange is that the money that God gives us needs to be used to bless others.
Everyone got that?
Give money to God. God gives money to you. Go and bless others with what God has given you in return.
Here’s the thing. IT’S GARBAGE! TOTAL BALONEY!
Boy, this really got me steamed up today.
There’s no equation by which we can coerce God into giving us cash. Moolah. Greenbacks.
I know plenty of righteous poor people who give to God and never get money in return. God’s not a bank paying you interest on your investment.
Telling people that if they give then God will give back is ludicrous.
“But Pastor, what about the poor woman who gave her last two coins?”
What about her?
That’s a great story, but the point is not, “Give to God and he’s gonna give you more in return.” There is no Heavenly CashBack Plan. The point of the widow giving is about the heart of the giver.
Jesus says, “So what if you give a little out of your abundance? Look at this poor woman who gave a lot out of her poverty!” Her heart was in the right place – not because she wanted God to return her money ten-fold, but because she prioritized giving to God above everything else. She gave until she had nothing left to give.
What a heart.
I’m not there. I haven’t met a whole lot of people who are. But shouldn’t that be our goal? Can we grow and mature and get to the point that we’re willing to commit to God 100% of everything we have and everything we are?
Jesus said, “The poor you will have with you always.” There’s not divine get-rich plan. Giving to God may get you no earthly reward. Don’t believe anyone who tells you differently.
At the same time, when we cultivate generous hearts then we reap unseen rewards. We may never experience them in this lifetime – but that’s not the point.
So examine your heart and your motivations for giving.
You won’t earn money back. But how’s your heart?
thexiansatirist 