The Cause and Effect of Giving
by Christopher Hendrix
We witness cause and effect in our world every day. We hit the gas pedal on the car, then it moves (hopefully). We forget to take out the trash, and then the room smells. We feed a kid sugar, and then that child goes crazy. We also see cause-and-effect actions within our relationships. A door is held open for someone, and then a ‘thank you’ comes (from those with manners, anyway). An act of kindness occurs, and that person is repaid with another act of kindness. Negatively speaking, when someone wrongs another person, the wrongdoer has something bad happen to him. Cause and effect take place from one action, setting off another action.
Listen to Pastor Chris teach on 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.
Some Christians describe this as ‘what goes around comes around.’ Other Christians even use phrases like, ‘That’s karma.’ Christians who use this phrase ought to seek an understanding of what karma is precisely, and then they should stop using such terminology. Others might even say, ‘They had it comin’ to ‘em.’ While the cause deserves the effect in most cases, we err when we stretch this natural law to specific subjects, such as giving. When we give, we shouldn’t expect the effect to be more money in our pockets. This is one issue with the prosperity gospel, a belief system that interprets certain places in Scripture as a formula for material wealth. They treat giving as a way to 'activate' God's blessings, turning God into a cosmic genie who is required to answer your wish as long as you rub the lamp. This is not the God of the Bible. The prosperity gospel is no gospel, but it’s idolatry.
The true Christian Gospel reflects a benevolent God but cannot be manipulated. In 2 Corinthians 9:10–15, we see the grace of God on display. There is a promise that when we give, God will enrich us. When we steward our resources well, God will provide us with more. What’s the purpose of God giving us more in return? To continue exercising generosity by giving more to more people. So, is this the law of cause and effect at work in our giving? Yes and no. Yes, God responds to our giving by providing all our needs and more so that we can continue giving. No, in that God may not necessarily give us back more money. You may give cash but not receive money in return. Instead, God may provide in other ways for your righteousness harvest, such as opportunities to share your possessions, give you extra room to house another believer, pick up groceries, or simply continue doing the good work of living your daily life with strength and energy to serve the Lord.
God could grow your business, give you opportunities to share your possessions, give you extra room to house another believer, pick up groceries, or simply continue doing the good work of living your daily life with strength and energy to serve the Lord. But, all of these pale compared to Paul's ultimate return in this passage. The highest return on our giving may not result in money but will result in God's glory. God’s glory being proclaimed by the receivers of what you gave far surpasses anything else!
This is because the entire purpose of creation is God’s glory. The whole goal of our lives is to spread God’s glory around us. But what does 'God's glory' mean? It's not just about God being famous or powerful, but it's about His character and attributes being made known. We do this through the words we speak and the way we live. When we give to other believers, this produces glory to God in their hearts and on their lips. Most of all, we demonstrate the inexpressible gift of God that has been given to us. Christ is seen in our giving freely to one another. His glory shines brighter than gold and is more valuable than multiple zeros following one. The effect of our giving may not be physical riches, but it certainly is the glory of God.