Giving, Doing Good and Being Blessed 奉献、行善与蒙福
Author: Bro Goh Hun Keng
Translate: Sis Charis Ong
When faced with irresolvable situations, it is common for people to try and use “chicken-and-egg” logic to explain them away. Perhaps some Christians will ask: should I give thanks only when God has answered my prayers or should I do as the Bible taught? To give cheerfully and then wait patiently upon the Lord to answer my prayers according to His will? The truth is God is holy, just and almighty. He is neither to be treated lightly, nor are we supposed to bargain with Him.
Speakers often use Malachi 3:10 to encourage believers to tithe in exchange for God’s blessings or multiplied returns. I do not think this is an attitude Christians should have with regards to giving. Cheerful giving is an expression of faith and love. It is an instruction of the Bible and an act of thanksgiving. The Old Testament recorded the first act of tithing when Abraham presented Melchizedek king of Salem a tenth of his plunder from defeating Cheodorlaomer and the kings with him when rescuing Lot. Our Lord Jesus also emphasized in Matthew 23:23 that tithing is not to be neglected.
I feel that a person with a grateful heart has the ability to follow God’s word with faith. He finds fulfilment in life which in turn causes him to be cheerful in giving and be generous in helping others. If you have observed fellow believers around you, those who are ready to give and help always seem to exude self-confidence and optimism. I guess one of the major reasons will be because they know what it means to give thanks. Giving thanks can be our daily homework. A Christian Jewish rabbi once said, “If you can put down in writing daily 5 things to be thankful for, after some time, you will start to experience more joy in life and become more creative in overcoming challenges.” Can we attempt to think of 5 instances, from the time we awake to the time we sleep, that we can give thanks for? Write it down when it comes to you. Keep this up for a while and see if your life will change.
Cheerful giving with a grateful heart not just pleases God, but it is also where blessings stem from and fuel a church’s passion for evangelism. We may also take the chance to spread the blessings we have received to others in need, especially to those who are adversely impacted by the current pandemic. Proverbs 3:27 clearly states that “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Beloved brothers and sisters, is this not another chance given by God for us to be blessed?
文/吴汉卿弟兄
世人常会把一些不能解决的局面，推到“先有鸡还是先有蛋”关系的理论问题上。我们信徒今天也许也会问，我是否要在得到神应允我的祷告后才作感恩奉献；还是以乐意的心，遵行圣经的教导，奉献后耐心等候神按他旨意来成全我的祈求？其实，神是圣洁公义的全能者，是轻慢不得，我们也不可以与神做交易。
我们时常会听到讲员用玛拉基书3章10节来鼓励信徒作十一奉献，以换取神的祝福或者倍数的回报。我认为这不是基督徒对奉献的正确态度。乐意奉献本来就是信心、爱心、行为的表现，它是圣经的教导，也是感恩的表现。旧约圣经记载亚伯拉罕打胜三王联军搭救了罗得，将所得的战利品的十分之一奉献给大祭司撒冷王麦基洗德，这是旧约圣经所记载的第一件有关十一奉献的事。主耶稣也在马太福音书23：23提到十一奉献时，这么强调说：“这是不可不行的”。
我觉得，一个有感恩之心的人，在他的生命中总会有一股能力，促使他更有信心去遵行神的话。他会在生命上感觉丰盛满足，且会促使他乐于奉献，慷慨行善帮助人。若是你留意观察你周围的基督徒，那些乐意奉献和去帮助别人的，常常显得格外有自信(Self-confident)和乐观(optimistic)。我想，其中最大的原因就是他们懂得如何常常感恩。感恩可以当做我们每天的功课，就有一位基督徒的犹太拉比如此说：“每天若是能把要感恩的五件事，用笔写在簿子上，天天如此，过了一些时日，你的生命与生活，就会开朗乐观起来，也会更具有创造力的思维来面对生活的挑战”。我们是否可以想一想，从早上起身至到晚上睡觉，这段时间里，有那五件事可以感恩的呢？想到就一一的写下来吧。再过一些日子，看看这对你的生命与生活有什么改变吗？
以感恩的心，乐意的奉献是神所喜悦的，是蒙福的根源，也是促使教会有传福音热忱背后的推动力。另一方面，我们也可以藉此将所领受的恩典分享给那些有需要的人和家庭，特别是当今受疫情影响的许多家庭成员。箴言3:27 岂不是这么说：“…你手若有行善的力量，不可推辞，就当向那应得的人施行”。 亲爱的弟兄姐妹，这不也是神给我们另一个蒙福的机会啊?