Giving to Those in Need Plants Seeds into the Kingdom
We know that giving to those in need is an instruction from the Lord. When done with a cheerful heart (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-7), it touches God’s heart. But what is the Kingdom purpose of giving? From God’s Word, we know that giving to those in need…
- Reveals the Father’s generosity
- Reveals the Lord’s abundant love
- Reveals God’s provision
- Reveals the Father’s trustworthiness
- Reveals God’s character as a promise-keeper
- Reveals the law of Yeshua
Ultimately, giving to those in need expands the Kingdom of God.
Why Giving to Those in Need is God’s Call
The verses below speak of God’s heart. They tell us that He wants His people to care for those in need. He desires for us to understand His almighty power to provide. He longs for us to see Him as a promise-keeper that wants to release blessings.
And most importantly, giving to those in need fulfills the law of Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua Himself stated that we are to love one another, and by this, all will know we are His disciples (see John 13:34-35). When we bear each other’s burdens, we are displaying the love of Yeshua.
- Reveals the Father’s Generosity
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”—Matthew 7:11
- Reveals the Lord’s Abundant Love
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”—Luke 6:36,38
- Reveals God’s Provision
“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.”—Deuteronomy 15:7-8
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19
- Reveals the Father’s Trustworthiness
“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”—Matthew 6:30
- Reveals the Father’s Character as a Promise-Keeper
“Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; you will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.”—Psalm 41:1-3
- Reveals the Law of Yeshua
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”—Galatians 6:2
2 Ways to Think When Giving to Those in Need
Think about Being a Good Steward
When we follow biblical principles with our finances, we have a humble understanding that we are not owners, but rather stewards. God gave us a choice as to how we manage what He has given us. But, according to His Word, when we manage it well—that is according to His principles—we will be trusted with much more (see Luke 16:10).
So then, we must seek and do God’s will when it comes to giving. It will surely release blessings to all involved!
Think about Making an Investment
Likewise, we must look at giving to those in need as an investment. There is always a return on our Kingdom investments… always. This is the way God operates. Think of Kingdom giving not simply as “letting go” of seeds that you will never see the fruit of, but rather an investment made—a seed sown (into good soil)—that you can be certain will provide a fruitful harvest!
This harvest should spread the Kingdom of God, furthering His prophetic plans on earth. And where is biblical prophecy centered around? Israel…
Giving to Those in Need in Israel
Giving to those in need captures God’s attention. In Acts, we read that Cornelius prayerfully and generously gave to those in need, “…Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4).
A memorial… It captures God’s attention and He remembers this beautiful act of love!
Yeshua said that where our treasures are, there our hearts will also be. Don’t we want to have a heart that follows God’s?
Where God is, that is where we want to be.
By His Word, we know where His heart is… it is always with Israel!
The Lord affectionately refers to Israel as a people and nation He…
- Loves (see Hosea 11:1 and Deuteronomy 33:3)
- Personally chose and brought out of Egypt by His power (see Deuteronomy 4:37)
- Redeemed (see Deuteronomy 7:8)
- Sees as the apple of His eye (see Zechariah 2:8)
- Has a heart relationship with (see 2 Chronicles 6:6, 7:16)
God is on the move in Israel. He always has been. He does this for His name’s sake and fulfills the destiny He has promised throughout time.
Obviously, this does not mean that He isn’t moving in every nation around the globe, but it should cause us to pause for a moment and think about the verses and characteristics mentioned above.
Have you asked, “How does our Heavenly Father think about this chosen nation?”
The answer is clear. It is also clear He desires us to stand with them (see Genesis 12:3).
If He is a generous, promise-keeping Father who abundantly loves and continuously provides—and asks the Church to be His ambassadors, showing the love of Yeshua—then we must take every Word inspired by His Spirit to heart.
His heart has been, is still, and will always be with Israel. If this changed, it would make Him a liar.
God never changes (see Malachi 3:6). God will not lie (see Numbers 23:19).
Therefore, if we want to align with the heart of the Lord, we need to look at where His heart is, where He is moving, and go there.
Giving to Those in Need According to God’s Calendar
There are times on God’s calendar when it is customary to give. One of those times is during Purim.
A custom of Purim is giving to those in need.
Why?
One reason is to show solidarity…
The feast of Purim centers on the story of Esther. Haman, the villain of the story, accused the Jews of being a scattered and dispersed people whose laws are different, implying that they were lawbreakers (see Esther 3:8).
Because of this statement by Haman, the Jews developed a custom from Esther 9:19 to give gifts to each other and, in particular, giving to those in need to show unity—counteracting the Haman-spirit of being scattered and ununified.
As Believers, we can think of Purim as a beautiful opportunity to show that we stand united with Israel. When we give to those in need during Purim, and other times of the year, it communicates solidarity and love.
A Peace Offering
Giving a peace offering during the Lord’s Feasts symbolizes a response to the peace we have with the Father through Yeshua. It also symbolizes the peace we desire for Israel.
The peace offering is called the shelamim in Hebrew. Shelamim is related to the word shalom, which means “peace.” The peace offering was an opportunity to share in the Lord’s table.
When we invest in the peace of Israel…
It says, “We battle against the Haman-spirit, bringing peace and harmony rather than division and destruction. We are side-by-side with you in the battle.”
It says, “We stand with you.”
It says, “We see you.”
It says, “We are your friends. You are not forgotten.”
When we give according to God’s calendar, the nation of Israel notices, God notices. It cuts to their hearts and God’s, expanding His Kingdom.
Let us continue to pray for Jerusalem’s peace and stand with Israel because this is where God’s heart resides.
“…I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there…”
“…that My name may be there forever;
and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”
—2 Chronicles 6:6, 7:16