A while back a congressman had to educate a so-called “pastor” about the Word of God. He used this verse to give this false teacher a true lesson of God’s Word:

2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV – So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

This is one of the greatest misconceptions that has turned most that profess to being “Christians” into the lukewarm. They believe that by paying taxes to a nation’s government it is no longer their responsibility to care for those in need. Thus, they can keep the majority of their earthly wealth unto themselves because they paid their taxes and gave their 10% tithe to a building called a “church.”

This fits two of the three categories described in the verse above. That being “grudgingly” and by “necessity.”

However, those that truly seek to follow Christ do so as a “cheerful giver.” This is expanded upon when reading 1 Timothy.

First, we are told this:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Secondly, we are commanded .. commanded this:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

This is a clear commandment from the Word of God that most that now profess to being followers of Jesus Christ ….. aren’t. But followers of their earthly wants and lusts.

1 John 2:15-16 NKJV – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Or a better translation is this:

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

This is the nature of the beast. For most truly do not seek to reflect Christ but the world itself which esteems what God sees as an abomination.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Most justify themselves before men by how fancy they dress and live. All of which is mammon worship and a sin against God.

Just so we understand what is considered mammon and how it is worshipped. Those that are mammon-worshippers seek after riches (jewelry, and fancy clothes), money (seeking after and hording earthly wealth beyond what is needed to make it to the next day), possessions (those objects that gather dust all over your houses and as well as luxury vehicles and any vehicle that goes beyond the basic need of transport to places you need to get to) and then property (a huge house beyond the basic need for shelter and/or multiple houses as well as empty land filled with nothing to help those in need.) 

All that is listed above is what is esteemed by those that live only for the world and not for God.

Here is another point that needs to be made about taxes.

Mark 12:13-17 NKJV – Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

Paying taxes had zero to do with serving God by His standards other than following this verses:

Titus 3:1 NKJV – Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,

Therefore, God’s commandment is to live a needs-only lifestyle keeping the majority of our earthly wealth at the ready to help those in need. Is the glorious standard we are not just instructed, but commanded … again commanded to do. This has nothing to do with the necessity to pay taxes to a government.

This emphasis that the majority who profess to being a follower of Jesus Christ are liars and hypocrites who have been spewed out of the Body of Christ long ago.

Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Revelation 21:8 NKJV – But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The only way to succeed at being a cheerful giver is by living off the least of our earthly wealth, which in turn makes it easier to be cheerful when we see an opportunity to give to those in need. It becomes cheerful because we are doing so for Christ who is not only our Savior but the benchmark we seek to reflect. Additionally, since in essence it is money that is just lying around gathering dust it is easy to dispense and so something that brings us joy to give and to share, thus making us – ”cheerful givers.”

Now, in this time. I see most laughing off these Biblical Truths. However, when you think upon it. When it come time for the decision to choose the mark of the beast or face starvation as well as the loss of their earthly possessions people will awaken to the Truth. The Truth that because they laughed off this study of the Word of God, and refused to downsize to the bare minimum to survive within this world they turned themselves into enemies of God, For the word “tribulation” means a punishment of an enemy. During that seven-year period it will be all that find themselves upon this earthly plain of existence within this time frame. For only those that DO find themselves here are ALL enemies of God.