God’s Reward for Giving, Spurgeon on Giving God Service, and Laying Up Treasures In Heaven
Welcome back to The Think Institute’s weekly Newsletter. On Fridays, you and 1200+ other subscribers receive an idea from me, a quote from somebody else, and something to think about. If you like this, please share it with a friend. Access the archives here.
Before we get into it, you need to know this: Our mailing address has changed! We are now located at
The Think Institute
11 E. Main St.
St. Charles, IL 60174
It's crucial that your letters and donations get to the right place, so please update your records! Thank you so much—and if you've already gotten the memo, thanks for bearing with me, as I seek to get the word out to everyone.
Now let's dive in.
AN IDEA FROM ME
In Scripture, God really does promise to reward His people when we give generously.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” —Proverbs 3:9–10
"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” —Luke 6:38
Over and over in the Bible, God makes it clear that He intends to take care of those who give generously.
However, if you are like me, you may balk at these promises. After all, is this not what the prosperity preachers promise—that if you “sow a seed” by giving money to their ministries, God will bless you? However, there is an important fact that we cannot miss, here. God is promising to reward His people for giving to Him, and to further His kingdom. Giving to a prosperity preacher, who teaches a false Gospel, is not giving to the Lord or furthering His kingdom. So we can heartily affirm these biblical promises, while still condemning and rejecting the false promises of prosperity preachers.
Does this mean, therefore, that God will always return to us a financial blessing, every time we make a financial gift? Not at all. However, giving to worthy causes (which we will describe in greater detail below) is a way of storing up treasure in Heaven (cf. Matthew 6:19–20).
Any rewards God gives you in this life will necessarily be temporary. So it is comforting to know that, while He may give us rewards “down here,” He is storing up for us greater, everlasting rewards for us in Heaven.
—What Does The Bible Say About Giving? on YouTube
A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE
“If we give God service it must be because He gives us grace. We work for Him because He works in us.”
—Charles Spurgeon, commenting on Psalm 119:17. Available for free on BibleHub: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/tod/psalms/119.htm.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
What does it mean to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20)?
Respond to this email in the next seven days, and I will write you back.
In Christ,
Joel Settecase
President
P. S. Today there is a huge need for high-quality educational resources that provide deep, intellectually rigorous discussions on apologetics and family leadership.
While there is a wealth of information available, much of it is not tailored to the specific needs of men seeking to lead and disciple within their families, churches, and communities. Guys find it either too simplistic or too complicated.
Men need resources that are not only informative but also easily accessible and applicable to real-life scenarios.
Many Christian men also feel isolated in their spiritual journeys and lack a supportive community to discuss and explore their beliefs.
By God's grace, The Think Institute is solving these problems through interactive programs and discussion groups, accessible resources and training, and our unique learning fellowship for men. If you would like to give financially to help support this cause, please make a gift of any amount today. You can give online by going here.
P. P. S. If you are a man who is interested in strengthening your faith, understanding theological concepts, and learning how to effectively witness and disciple within your spheres of influence, check out our discipleship fellowship, the Hammer & Anvil Society. Our next class, Advanced Apologetics, is starting on June 24. Learn more about the Hammer & Anvil Society here.