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| allnationsmin.org |
I always say go for the invisible rewards, things unseen by the
naked eyes and which cannot be perceived by the unspiritual mind. Material
blessings we hear from testimonies are good and should inspire us to praise God
more. But more than material blessings are unseen rewards God gives to those up
for a Kingdom promotion—things highly unappreciated [if not belittled] by the
world, especially the worldly church.
We often watch on TV testimonies about how people received things
in return for giving to a mission or ministry. For instance, I once watched on
TV how a lady got 3 cars and a lucrative business after giving money support to
a popular ministry. Then, the host encouraged watchers to also give to get
something in return. It’s like a business or investment to gain a profit. And
the impression they create is that your material possessions get doubled or
tripled when you support a ministry. In short, go for material rewards, rewards
seen by the eyes and easily appreciated in the world.
They Show Only Visible Rewards on TV for Promotion
Giving to God definitely results to rewards, especially material
and financial. But I always say go for the invisible rewards than the visible
ones. However, some ministries are only after self promotion [to get more
donations for their causes--well, which are worthy causes, to be sure] and show
only the visible rewards reaped by probably about 10 percent of the givers.
It’s like this. If there are 1,000 donors, only about 10 percent
will get visible rewards. The rest won’t. It’s an observable fact—not all who
give to ministries get their money or possessions doubled or tripled. So, the
rest of those who gave would wonder back in their minds and ask, why didn’t I
get blessed as that other person did on TV? Am I doing something wrong? Isn't
God pleased with me?
If
you're in sin, your giving won't please God, for sure, though you may likewise get material rewards for it. Strange as it sounds but it happens--God rewards both the righteous and the wicked, remember?
"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." [Matthew 5.45]
In fact, sometimes,
givers who are in sin seem to get more material rewards. Remember the rich man and Lazarus? Lazarus had God's favor but the rich man got tremendous material blessings. Most times, givers who
live in righteousness scarcely get materially blessed. Well, for purposes of
discussion, let's talk of righteous giving here.
Back to that Christian TV program where they promote material blessings. Now, if money or material rewards alone get promoted, what would
happen? The effect would be either of two things: "unblessed" givers would try again,
inspired by the testimony they saw on TV where 10 percent who gave support got
money or material blessings. Or, they’d be disappointed and stop [or
quit] giving.
The question is, why are we inclined to highlight money or
material rewards more than spiritual rewards? Didn't the Master say we should store treasures more in heaven?
Why Go for the Invisible Rewards?
Watch
this verse: “Thus, we glue our eyes on [or watch out intently for]
rewards that are unseen, not visible ones or those readily seen and appreciated
in this world. Visible things or rewards are just temporary. They won’t
last. But unseen or invisible rewards are eternal,” [2 Cor. 4.18]. But the way things are, the church today goes for
the money value system of the world rather than the Kingdom value system. To
God, unseen rewards are definitely superior, but the church rarely
promotes them seriously.
If you give money support to a ministry, go for the invisible
rewards: like a higher and more secure status in the invisible Kingdom, in
God’s eternal and invisible glorious church. In short, desire to be God’s flesh
on earth. Jesus said; “Use your worldly wealth [material possessions and money]
to gain friends for yourself [share it or support a ministry], so that when it
is gone [“gone” means God wants you to give up everything],
you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings [a secure place in the Kingdom],
[Luke 16]. He didn't say, "so when it's donated, you double your money."
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