Praise Him Big. I have not been on this board lately as am abit buzy - tied up with some winding up routine for my organisation around this time. Am doing well . Thank you all for your generous, faithfull prayers for my situations. God is good, all the time.

Now, lately, a new trend of making quick money amongst women groups has caught up very fast in my country called "gifting" so I hear. What happens; you join a circle of 15ppl. The first eight people contribute a certain agreed amount to the centre person(15th). After she gets her gift she will move out then 3 circles below her will push up; making the next circle to her be the central person to be paid. Meanwhile the vacant places in the first circle have to be filled. The central cirlcle will also spilt into another circle. So the circles multiply on and on and on. The central person may inject money one more time to boost up the vacant places but may not come back to the circle to be paid. The hussle here is to endeavour to convince as many people as are the vacant places so as to get the central person be paid and of course other entrants nearing the centre to be paid as well. At this point many a christian ladies are asking: Is this genuine money making or it's gambling? I actually went to Gospelnet.com to look up for answers related to this gift circle but somehow I did not get exactly what I wanted . There
are so many questions going on here, are people genuinely gifting the centre person or are impatiently waiting for their turn? Like when you tithe, do U do it because U love God, or because you are expectant of smthg doubled from God? Sorry am not good at bible referencing but in the bible it says Test me(with your tithes)your barns will be filled...
Could somebody there help me and others how to go about this. The sad bit of it is that more comitted christian ladies are in this thing!! Is it right or wrong? Waiting for your kind answers.

Hello Erona,

The "gifting" program that you have described is a variation of a pyramid scheme. In such a promotion, no new wealth is created, no product produced or sold, and no investment in goods and services is made. Pyramid programs by their very nature are designed to produce a nice return for those people who become involved early, but disappointment to those who join last.

The basic mathematics of the pyramid or "circle" in the gift program requires that there be many times more people losing money than gaining money. The majority of people who join the gift circles will end up being angry and disapponted, even more so because the participants who brought them into the scheme were Christians.

Gift circles, in my opinion, are not gambling, in that the mathematics of them do not depend on the law of probability. The ravages of gambling have their own elements of destruction in the walk of a Christian. The "gift circle" is however an attempt to make money at the expense of others. Those who participate in them are not devious, but those who design them are, as they know that the first ones joining the program make money and the last ones to join lose big time.

The attached article may be of assistance to you:

http://www.bible.com/answers/apyramid.html

Are the persons who "gift" each other genuinely, giving a gift without thought for a return? That would have to be answered by each participant, but the nature of such a pyramid program is that by giving to someone, you may, just may reep great returns. That type of enticement would change the nature of the "gift" to that of an investment with a hope of a return. The investment, however, is a fraud, in that those who profit do so at the expense of others, most of whom ultimately will lose.

Erona, I am preaching here, of course, but I believe that such schemes invade the life of a Christian when the overall testimony of the church and the believers own walk with Christ has been diluted and compromised. Those who have allowed their testimony to be altered by the life they lead are easy prey for the enemy who will entice them with a promise of a great and easy return with little effort. What harmless fun! It's worked for others, why not me? After all, if the Lord wants to bless me this way, why not? In reality, the God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and doesn't need a pyramid program to bless us.

You can provide a nice gift to your friends by lovingly encouraging them to not participate in these programs and share with them the scriptures that teach against such schemes noted in the article referenced above.

I hope that this of help to you.

God Bless You, Erona.

Nick.

Dear Erona

I have also read your CONFUSED topic. I will reply to this one here.

I agree with Nick's reply, that this sounds like a variation on the pyramid scheme, which I believe takes our focus off the Lord as our Provider. Firstly, the Lord expects us to do a honest day's work and therefore EARN our money. There are various parables that Jesus told where a day's work was involved even though not necessarily the main point of the parable - like Matt 20 & 21.

Also, Paul had various things to say about work as well, not being a burden to others for "handouts".
AC 20:32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

1TH 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

There is also the story about Tabitha who was greatly respected for her work.
AC 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas*), who was always doing good and helping the poor.

But even if we don't earn a wage/salary, the Lord will honour us for the work we do for Him, whether it be here on this earth, or when we meet Him. This work includes winning souls for Him and building each other up. Various times in the New Testament the spreading of the gospel is spoken about as the work of the Gospel.

Secondly, a true gift must be given without expecting anything in return, and I don't believe that is the case with this gifting program. Maybe one or two people truly have the right attitude but I think most people will be expecting or hoping for something in return, taking their focus of the Lord as their Provider, i.e. their trust in Him will be withered away due to them putting their trust rather in humans. So, anything that removes our complete focus from Him, is not good - it is not ultimately for His glory, is it.

Regarding tithing, our heart's attitude is what the Lord looks at when we give. Not that the amount is not important. I believe that if tithing doesn't hurt our pockets, then we are probably not giving enough. But the Lord doesn't expect of us to give at the cost of our family though. We give as the Lord gave to us when He died on the cross, without expecting anything back. Without expecting a double portion or any blessing from Him. We are blessed so much as it is. A family, home, warm food, clothes, health, a job, and ultimately Him.

I hope this helps a bit.

Stay focused on Jesus, your Provider. And do everything as if doing it for Him.

Anthony

PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

PHP 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.