How to Give
How to give…there are many beliefs about how we should give. My aim in writing this post is not to highlight, credit or discredit any of these beliefs. Instead, my aim is to raise a mirror before you and ask you to compare the beliefs you hold dear, in regards to giving, with the Word of God. As you do this, I ask that you would determine for yourself whether you are giving correctly.
Guidelines for Giving
The foundation of giving is love. Love for God and love for man. This foundation is so important that God tells us:
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24
From this foundation, God gives us further guidelines on the principle of giving:
1. Give unto the Lord
In order to give unto the Lord, there are certain truths we must appreciate:
a) All belongs to God.
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2
‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
Haggai 2:8
b) Because He owns all, He is not in need.
Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.
Job 41:11
I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
fulfil your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.
Psalm 50:8-15
Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?
Romans 10:35
c) Therefore, give in reverence and worship
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
1 Chronicles 29:14
Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
fulfil your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honour me.
Psalm 50:14-15
Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruit of all your crops
Proverbs 3:9
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occassion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:11
Your Turn
Giving unto the LORD is a privilege. How can you practically do this?
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Matthew 25:34-40
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:20
God gives us many opportunities to give unto Him by ministering love to others. When we give of ourselves and of our possessions to others, out of love, we allow God to be honoured.
Will you give unto the Lord?