In many religious communities, giving has been prioritized as one of the core teachings. churches and religious institutions often focus on teaching and emphasizing the giving of money, property, and other resources to their believers, while often failing to put emphasis on the spiritual foundation that leads to voluntary giving—sincere love for God. this has brought great errors in religious teachings, as giving has become a necessary duty, instead of being the result of a person's true love for God.
1. The Error of Teaching Giving as a Religious Command
instead of teaching people to love God and have an inner spiritual relationship with Him, some religions have made giving a necessity, which is taken as a measure of spiritual loyalty. they emphasize so much that believers feel that they must give in order to receive blessings or be accepted by God. This contradicts the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, which emphasize that giving is a voluntary thing that comes from the heart and is rooted in love for God.
John 3:16 (SUV) says:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son."
This clearly shows that giving has its source in true love, not forced by laws or teachings. God gave because He loved the world, not because He was forced to do so. People should be taught to love God first, and giving will happen voluntarily.
2. The Mistake of Using Giving as a Way to Get Blessings
Many religions have emphasized giving as a way to obtain material blessings, such as more money, wealth, or personal success. this teaching equates giving with exchanging God's favors for worldly things. A person may think that giving a lot will bring him great blessings, but the essence of giving is wrong because it does not come from love, but the desire to get more.
In Matthew 6:1-4 (SUV), Jesus says:
"Be careful not to do your good deeds in front of people to be seen by them, because if you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Jesus clearly explained that our acts of giving should not be done with the intention of being seen or getting something from God, but should be done with true love and a willing heart.
3. Failure to Teach God's True Love
Another problem is that religions often fail to teach people how to love God with all their heart. Instead of teaching how to build a spiritual relationship with God, the priority is on giving as a measure of faith. this causes people to give because they feel they have to, instead of giving because they love God and want to participate in His work willingly.
Mark 12:30-31 (SUV) says:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength... love your neighbor as yourself."
These are the basic instructions that should be taught before pressing delivery. loving God and your neighbor is the reason to give, not because of personal gain or religious pressure.
4. Outcomes of Teaching Giving as a Prerequisite
By teaching giving as a necessary condition, many churches and religions have affected believers in a negative way. some believers do it out of sadness or compulsion, feeling that they have to give in order to gain approval before God or their religious leaders. This distorts the true meaning of giving and can lead people to become frustrated or feel inadequate in the faith if they cannot give as they should.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (SUV) says:
"Let each person give as he intended in his heart, not out of sadness or under compulsion, for God loves the one who gives with a happy heart."
This emphasizes that giving should be voluntary and joyful, not forced. God does not appreciate the amount of giving, but the heart of the giver.
Many religions have made the mistake of making giving a lesson instead of teaching God's love first. Giving should be the result of sincere love for God, and not an act of religious pressure. instead of focusing on giving as a way to get blessings, religions should encourage people to love God wholeheartedly. Because of that love, giving will be voluntary and joyful, which brings glory to God. people need to understand that giving is a fruit of love, not a compulsory subject, and it should be done with a happy heart and not by compulsion.
Mwl Kabenda Balete
Kingdom Academy Ministries
Dar es Salaam.
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