THE STINGY DISEASE

''There was a man called Ananias, and his wife was Sapphira. They sold some land too, but they kept some of the money for themselves. Ananias only gave some of it to Peter and to Jesus’s other special workers, for them to share with the other Christians. Ananias lied to them. He said, ‘'This is all the money we got for our land’’. His wife knew what he was doing, and she agreed to it’’ – Acts 5:1-2 (PEV)

"Cirrhosis of the Giver" otherwise known as the stingy disease was discovered in A.D. 34 by the husband-wife team of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). It is an acute condition that renders the patient’s hands immobile when he/she is called on to move them in the direction of his wallet or her purse, and from thence to the offering plate. This strange malady is not clinically observable in places like supermarkets, restaurants, social gatherings, or parties. The best therapy for this disease is to get the individual’s heart right with God. 

The Church is a divine spiritual diagnostic centre where believers are screened in readiness for their return trip back home (Ephesians 5:26-27). Everyone who test negative is celebrated while those who test positive are reprimanded. For instance, in Acts 5:1-5, Holy Spirit carried out a detailed diagnostic review of the believers' hearts and discovered that Mr. and Mrs. Ananias were suffering from chronic "cirrhosis of the giver" - the stingy disease. Their test result shows that they had withheld a portion of the proceeds of their land from God and the needy among them. Obviously, their hearts were not right with God and they underestimated the power of the divine x-ray (Holy Spirit) that is at work in the church. Unfortunately, they were exposed, died prematurely, and left their loved ones behind to mourn and suffer for their selfishness and self-centeredness.  

Beloved, the x-ray of the Holy Ghost has not lost its potency. The Spirit of God that published the test result of Mr. & Mrs. Ananias in the early church is still active in His diagnostic centre today. All our hidden selfish and greedy thoughts, actions, motives, plans, aspirations, and desires are clearly under the powerful radar of Heaven. Everything we give to God and the needy are being scrutinized to ensure that it passes the stingy test of Heaven. Therefore, please don't become a victim of the spirit of stinginess that is afflicting many believers today. Always remember that you are a custodian of God's resources on earth (1 Corinthians 4:7). Giving to the needy and God is a special privilege; please don't ever take it for granted. The Almighty God gave man the greatest gift which is His only Begotten Son, hence no one can ever out-give Him (John 3:16). The greatest gift anyone can give to God is his/her soul. Have you given your soul to Jesus? If your answer is not in the affirmative, please make your way right with God now. And never forget that every opportunity you have to give unto God and the needy is an opportunity to be blessed (Prov 11:24, Malachi 3:10, Prov 19:17).  

The hymn below summarizes how Jesus Christ carried out the diagnostic review in Mark 12:41-44. 

JESUS SAT AND WATCHED THE CROWD By Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2000

Jesus sat and watched the crowd

At the temple treasury.

Some that day were rich and proud,

Making sure that all could see

Their great generosity.

Then a widow came along

Who had nothing she could spare.

Yet her faith in God was strong

And she gave as few would dare:

All she had, she chose to share.

Just a penny, nothing more,

Yet Christ said her gift was best.

What a risk, for one so poor!

What rich faith her gift expressed!

Trusting, giving, she was blest.

Lord, you see the way we live;

All within our hearts, you know.

Like that widow, may we give.

Trusting you, our gifts will grow

And our joy will overflow.

May God grant us grace to be faithful stewards of all His treasures in our custody. May we never withhold our time, talents, skills, intellectual abilities, etc from Him till Christ returns. 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to our 71st Annual Convention with the theme - BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. Date: Monday 7th - 13th August, 2023. Venue: Redemption Camp, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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