Giving 

Foundations of Faith – Giving

One of the very first things that we learn when studying the Book of Acts and the beginning of the early church, is the way these first Christians wonderfully engaged in their ability and ministry of giving.  

(Acts 2:44-47), “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  

God’s Word Teaches That One of Our Primary Responsibilities Given to Us Is Giving.

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

(Luke 6:38), “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

(Proverbs 19:17), “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.”

As we go through this study, it is our hope that we will realize what a blessing and privilege it is to be able to give to those in need and to further the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are only a few things in life that can be equaled to the feeling and reality of being needed for the welfare of others. It is hard to compare the warmth we sense when God uses us to put some joy back into the hearts of those that had a genuine need and to see God use our efforts to bring others to salvation.

 

Love Is the Foundation of Our Giving.

(1 Corinthians 13:3), “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Charity here speaks of an “agape” love that pours out generously unto others and expects nothing in return. The early church at Ephesus had this kind of love in the beginning, but lost it as we see in the following;

(Revelation 2:1-4), “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

This was a hard-working church, but a love for Jesus was no longer the reason for their labors. 

A love for God and for those around us should always be what compels us to give. The Lord does not want us to give “because we feel we have to give” or because it is our duty, but rather, our giving should be a natural outcome of our love’s inspiration. Whether we are giving of our time, talents or finances, God wants love to be the foundation and the reason that is motivating us to give.

 

The Lord Is Our Greatest Example of Giving

(John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son….”

(John 14:2), “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”

(1 Corinthians 2:9), “…Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

It is our human nature to look to others to inspire us in important areas of our lives. When it comes to giving, no other can come close to such an awesome example of being a giver as the Lord Jesus Christ has shown us!  He remains forever our standard of what it means to be a giver. 

(John 21:25), “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”

 

What Are the Reasons for Our Giving?

• To simply help others in need 

(Ephesians 4:28), “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

• Giving proves the sincerity of our love for God and others

(2 Corinthians 8:1-5), “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

• Investment in eternal riches that will be displayed as evidence of our love for Jesus 

(Philippians 4:16-17), “For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.”

(Matthew 6:19-21), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

• It benefits you the most

(Acts 20:35), “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

• It shows our worship to God by what we give 

(1 Corinthians 10:31), “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

 

Where Am I To Give?

• To Those in Need.

(Proverbs 31:10-20), “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies…She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy…”

(Romans 12:10-13), “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…distributing to the needs of the saints…”

(1 Corinthians 16:1-2), “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

(Ephesians. 4:28), “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

When you have time, please see also these verses; (Proverbs 19:17; 21:13; 28:27) (Acts 4:32-35; 6:1-2; 10:1-2; 11:29) (Romans 15:26-29) (2 Corinthians 8 & 9) (1 Timothy 5:9-10) (Matthew 6:1-4).

• Those Going from House-to-House Teaching God’s Word, (Elders and Church Planters)

(Philippians 4:10-19), “…Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities…”

(1 Timothy 5:17-18), “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

See also; (1 Corinthians 9:6-14), (2 Corinthians 11:8-10)

*Please note; Elders of the church were encouraged to maintain secular jobs; (Acts 20:17, 33-35). As they were pulled away from their farming, shepherding and fishing to teach and oversee the church, the people were in turn a blessing to them financially and in the way of earthly provisions. But if a local assembly of believers desire to financially provide for their elder enough to provide for him and his family so they have more time to carry on the growing responsibilities of their growing assembly, they may do so according to the verses we have just read. 

 

How Much Should We Give

• As God Has Prospered You

(1 Corinthians 16:2kjv),” Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

• Generously

(2 Corinthians 9:6), “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

• As You Purpose in your Heart

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

 

How Am I Supposed to Give?

Throughout God’s Word, giving has fallen under three categories: Structural Giving, Spontaneous Giving and Sacrificial Giving. It is good and right to develop all of them in our own personal ministry of giving, as the Lord would have us. Always remember though, whether structural, spontaneous or sacrificial, your giving should always be done from a cheerful heart of love.

• Structured Giving.

(1 Corinthians 16:1-2) – As God has prospered you 

(2 Corinthians 9:7) – As you propose in your heart

• Spontaneous Giving

 (Luke 10:25-37) – The Good Samaritan

(Acts 2 and 5) – The Early Church

(Matthew 6:1-4) – When you do your alms (donations)

• Sacrificial Giving

   (Mark 12:41-44) – Widow’s mite

“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

(2 Corinthians 8:1-5) – The Churches of Macedonia

“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

 

God’s Blessings for Givers

When we give properly, God’s Word promises that our lives will be blessed in different ways here on earth and when we get to Heaven.

(Proverbs 19:17), “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.”

(Proverbs 28:27), “He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.”

(Malachi 3:10), “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

(2 Corinthians 5:10), “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

(1 Corinthians 3:11-15), “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

(2 Corinthians 9:6), “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Giving!

BUILDING A FOUNDATION THAT WILL NEVER CRACK!