Giving to God's Work! 2 Kings 4:42-44

The economy is affecting everyone, and that includes the church. Many churches and ministries find themselves falling short of their targeted budgets. It is important that God's people understand the reason for giving to the Lord.

There is a funny story of a pastor who said to his people, after they voted on a rather large budget, “I don't know where they will get the money for the budget.” After the service, the people came to him somewhat relieved. They said, “Pastor, we are sure glad you don't know where the money is coming from for the budget. For a moment we thought that you were going to ask us for it.”

The good news about giving is that God is the one who provides. The bad news (just kidding) is that he provides through his people. Therefore, it is important that we remind ourselves what giving to the Lord is all about. 2 Kings 4:42-44 will reveal some truths for giving. First, notice that the inspiration for giving is worship.

The inspiration for giving is worship (42a)

“Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack.” (2 Kings 4:42a)

What the man brought to the man of God was an offering to the Lord. Throughout the scriptures God is constantly telling his people that giving is an act of worship. It is about giving God the preeminent place in our lives and that includes in our financial and material blessings. When we give to the Lord, we should do so out of love and adoration for the one who gave us everything. Second, notice that the vision for giving is people.

The vision for giving is people (42b-43)

Elisha the man of God gives direction for the offering. He says in the last part of verse 42, “Give them to the people that they may eat.” Again he says in verse 43, “Give them to the people that they may eat.” People are the vision for giving.

When God blesses his people, he expects his people to be a conduit of his blessings. That is, he wants to bless others through his people. When we give to the Lord, our focus should be blessing others. It must be people. I always tell people working on budgets for the church that we are stewards of people before we are stewards of finances. Finances of the church are for reaching people. Third, notice that the foundation for giving is faith.

The foundation for giving is faith (43-44)

“His attendant said, "What, will I set this before a hundred men?" But he said, "Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and have some left over.' " [44] So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.”

There will always be those who don’t see things through faith. This is the case for Elisha’s servant. He could only see that the vision for the people was bigger that the budget. Fortunately, the man of God saw things through faith.

Notice his faith, “They shall eat and have some leftover.” What was the source of his faith? It was the promise of God. Notice verse 44, “So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.”

Faith is the only way to please God. Faith trust God to reward those who seek him.

During these hard economic times, the church should rise to the occasion. What would the unbelieving world think if they saw that the most joyful time of God’s people worshiping together was the time of offering? They might believe the truth that we proclaim!