Trying to Prostitute God

Today in service, Bishop Jakes taught a message entitled, Updated! While under the anointing, he said that we needed to sow into that anointing so that God could UPDATE our lives. When he said that, I knew I wasn’t supposed to give. Not because my graphic design business is having a slow month and not because Bishop was trying to hustle us, because he wasn't. I knew I wasn't supposed to give because he said this was a spiritual battle. Therefore I knew I needed to sow spiritually. As soon as I said that, it was as if God removed the scales and I was able to see how we mistakenly sow, thinking that our giving (i.e., money) is fighting the battle for us.

You see, for some, giving is easy. Most Christians can sow any amount, large or small, and it doesn’t mean anything. But David said, “…I will [not give]…to the Lord my God…that which costs me nothing.” (2 Sam 24:24). But again, most Christians don’t give that way. An example of giving that which costs can be found in Mark 12:41-44 which reads,

'…Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

- Mark 12:41-44

The reason her small offering was so significant was because she gave the money she needed for her bills. She gave the money she needed for her LIFE which meant her giving was an act of faith. Her life was LITERALLY in those mites. But most don't give that which COSTS them something. And don’t get me wrong. I am in no way implying that we have to give until it hurts. Not saying that at all. The point I’m trying to make, is that when we do give out of our livelihood, the faith and the spirit behind our giving isn't in the right place. That’s because our faith is in our money. We invariably believe that the money will fix our problem. And though we thought we released our faith into the anointing, what we were truly doing was throwing money at our problems. Throwing money at our wants. Throwing money at our needs. But what we didn’t realize is WHO we were throwing our money TO.

We ignorantly and willfully walked our offering down to the most sacred place in the church, the altar, and threw our money at God. It’s as if we're saying,

“Lord, I’m gone run You this $20 and I’mma see what You can do for me.” Or, “Lord, they said You can do such and such. I’ll give You $50 to do it for me.” Or worse, “Here Lord. Take this hot $100 and fix such and such for me!”

It’s as if we we’re throwing money…at God… as if God works for us, and we’re telling God what WE want Him to do for us and the reason He should what WE'RE telling Him to do is because WE'RE PAYING HIM to do it. Oh, I know it doesn't seem like that's what we're doing but the majority of the time, we are.

When you think about it, it’s actually prostitorial. No prostitorial is not a word but it best describes what we’ve done. It’s as if we give God money to do what we want Him to do for us with the same spirit in which a john gives a prostitute money. Once the money is exchanged, the john expects an act, regardless and notwithstanding how the prostitute feels about it and/or him. Their feelings and what they want means nothing. Just take this money and do what I tell you to do. This is how some of our offerings are perceived in the eyes of God.

But let’s look at the outcome of giving in that spirit. If we did get what we wanted, we’d inadvertently give the credit to our giving and not to our God. We wouldn’t say, “God did such and such for me.” We’d say, “When I gave such and such, I got this." Or worse, “After I gave such and such, God did this!" One gives God absolutely no glory while the other infers that God only answers prayers when He’s paid. In both instances our giving got the glory and not our God.

Oftentimes our giving gets the glory and not our God.

The next time you give, check your spirit. Ask yourself if you’re trying to bribe and/or prostitute God because if you aren’t giving in faith, then you aren’t giving to God. And yes, it is possible that you could get what you want after you give but just because you got it doesn’t mean that it came from God.

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times I gave, as if I was trying to pay You to do something for me. Please forgive me for trying to buy my way out of and into things and please forgive me for treating You as if You worked for me and not the other way around. I ask You to teach me how to give and to check me when I try to give when it is not in faith. In Jesus’ name.

By the way…if you are a solopreneur and need to launch your business on a budget, HMU here!

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