Benny Hinn recently went viral with a message clarifying his stance on the prosperity gospel. He says he believes the whole Bible, every part, including the undeniable fact that God does want to bless his people and that God will supply all of our needs.
However, he pointed to abuses of the prosperity gospel where manipulation is used to get people to give instead of provoking people to give from the heart. He went on to share that if one isn’t giving because s/he loves Jesus; s/he should not bother giving.
Hinn shared how he was concerned that many who taught the prosperity message weren’t focuses on Jesus. They were focusing on the idea of buying something that is wanted with giving. He shared he’d never ask anyone to give a thousand dollars again.
Finally, he shared a concern for when ministers promise a 100-fold blessing for giving a particular amount. He asked the question, “what if someone gives a thousand and doesn’t get the 100-fold blessing?” What will happen to that person’s faith? Will s/he fall away from God?
I believe Benny Hinn bought up some valid concerns including the value in brokenness that causes us to lean on Christ. I do believe that God is more concerned with the heart of man as God already promises to take care of all of our natural needs such as money, shelter, clothing, etc. I don’t believe we should place so much focus on money outside of being diligent with what God gives us to do to earn money such as work, ideas, and businesses.
The manipulation of some ministries has become somewhat of a gimmick that distracts away from the gospel. I agree with Benny that we should give out of our love and obedience to God. That’s how I give. I do not allow anyone to manipulate me out of money. I remember an example of a prophet coming to one of my old churches. He asked the audience to give $2,000 each for an anniversary celebration for the pastor. I was a college student at the time, who worked work-study and did not have very much income.
The prophet instructed someone to pass a microphone around to the whole church so each member could pledge the $2,000 in front of everyone that day. He instructed us to say we’d give $2,000. When the mic got to me and I was asked how much I’d give, my response was simply I don’t know yet. He said what do you mean you don’t know yet? You’re a member, aren’t you? I said yes. After that, he did not know how to respond. So, he asked me if the gentleman sitting next to me was my husband. I said no, he was my brother. He told me to pass the mic to see what he’d give.
He said $2,000. He said, okay, you’re covered by his $2,000. My brother did not have $2,000 and he was later corrected by one of the elders in the church for pledging what he could not give because they were counting on that. However, under the pressure, what was he to do?
I was familiar with the scriptures that warn to be careful what we vow because God will require us to pay it. Thus, I had my mind made up to give my best whatever that was and I believe that’s okay in the eyes of God. The Bible says that all that we do should be done as unto the Lord anyway not unto man. I did a little fundraiser at my college which allowed me to earn an extra $50. I put that together with other money I had and ended up giving maybe $200 at best. It was far from $2,000, but it was what I had. I gave it as unto the Lord and because I did also love my pastor and desired to honor her. She had no problem with what I gave either. Neither does the Lord have a problem when people give less than the money that’s being asked of them.
The Bible is clear that we aren’t to give out of compulsion, or reluctantly, but as we’ve purposed in our heart. God wants us to be cheerful with what we’ve given. He isn’t trying to drive us into a rut from giving.
We can still reap all of the good benefits of giving without giving out of being manipulated. Like Benny said the main thing is that we have a heart after God. If we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness as the scripture says all things will be added unto us. Never allow someone to make you feel condemned for not giving a particular dollar amount.
Read the scriptures for yourself about tithes and offerings, and give that out of obedience. Allow yourself to be sensitive to God’s spirit when he places people on your heart to give to. This has happened to me before in the area of giving. God bought my former staff leader from I.V.C.F. (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) to mind. He placed on my heart to sow a seed toward him.
I had not spoken with him nor seen him in years. However, he called me out of the blue shortly after God put him on my heart and explained he was starting a new ministry from his house and wanted to know if I’d sow a seed. I told him the Lord had already dealt with me, and I’d give him a particular amount. I was glad, happy, and cheerful to give as unto the Lord what I’d already purposed before I got the call from the gentleman. I will reap a blessing from that, but I already felt blessed because I was able to obey God.
God wants fellowship with us more than anything. The joy I got in fellowshipping with God to bless a previous mentor in my life was what made me cheerful. This is what I believe Benny Hinn is getting at. We simply cannot leave Jesus out of the equation appealing to men to get money so they could only get things.
Finally, Jesus warned in John 6 about this very same thing. He’d just fed men with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, and these same men began to search for Jesus after the feeding ordeal had ended. When they finally found Jesus; Jesus corrected them saying, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” – John 6:36
Jesus was warning them that people can search for him without actually wanting him, but that isn’t what he desires. He wants us to search for him to know him. He also wants us to trust him that all other things will be taken care of.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
“When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you. “However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. “You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised. – Deuteronomy 23:21-23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23
Leave a Reply