Giving is God’s nature to satisfy or contribute to the needs of others unconditionally. It entails sacrifice and denial of self or personal interest for the benefit of others. God’s love enables true or genuine giving. Not all giving enables God’s love, for some giving may not be genuine. Giving is not salvation but salvation demands giving cheerfully.
Giving per se is not righteousness but righteousness demands giving because of Christ Jesus. Giving is costly to the giver in righteousness but always rewarded in Christ Jesus. David said in 1 Chronicles 2: 24, I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing. We pray to discuss these and others as the Holy Spirit may direct us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Giving based on God’s will
Giving must depend on the will of God. God did not put Adam and Eve in charge of his creation in Genesis 1: 27-31, because they were perfect but that God wanted them to be happy. God gives not by works but by his grace. God equally expects us to give not by works but by his will.
Looking at faces before we give is always the wrong approach. Jesus said in Luke 6: 33, if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Satisfying the poor is a necessary requisite to follow Christ Jesus, Matthew 19: 21; Mark 10: 21.
Giving in obedience
In Genesis 22: 2-16, God asked Abraham to give his only son by sacrifice and Abraham was ready to obey. Abraham’s obedience was not predicated on his abundance but God’s clear instructions and by the faith which he had in God. Abraham had only one son yet he was willing to let go to satisfy God. It was certainly not a happy or pleasant demand yet Abraham was ready to forego his personal interest.
However, God did not just intervene but rewarded Abraham for his obedience and willingness to sacrifice his dearest and only son, his interest to God. Upon God’s intervention, Abraham called the place of intended sacrifice in Genesis 22: 14, “The LORD will provide.
Giving out of insufficiency
The widow of Zarephath recorded in 1 Kings 17: 10-16 and same referred to by Jesus in Luke 4: 26 shared her little meal she had with Elijah upon his request and she was blessed. Elijah said in 1 Kings 17: 14, the jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth. God provides for the needy even when we have nothing of substance.
We do not need to have sufficient resources in order to give but the willingness to give. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9: 7, each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Although God is the creator of all resources and gives freely to us according to his will, he does not force any to give but appreciates cheerful giving without reluctance or complaints or murmuring.
Paul quoted scripture and said in 2 Corinthians 9: 9, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor, his righteousness endures forever.” Isaiah 41: 17 says when the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. The poor widow gave her mite in the offering, which was all she had without knowing where the next would come from and Jesus commended her to his disciples, Mark 12: 42-43; Luke 21: 2-3. She gave all her life depended on faith and believed that it would further God’s work. We must trust God and not be afraid of giving for we rather give unto God.
God gives out of love
God also gave us Christ Jesus, the only one and most precious he had without equivocation. John 3: 16 says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. God gave us his only Son Christ Jesus out of his love. 1 John 4: says not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Paul emphasized to the Roman converts that giving must not be subject to the recipient’s conduct but unrestrained love. Citing Jesus as an example, he said in Romans 5: 8, but God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Are we ready to give to support others because of Christ Jesus who gave his life as ransom for many, Matthew 20: 28?
How God treats giving
God counts it as obedience. For Abraham’s reward the angel of the LORD called to Abraham and said in Genesis 22: 16-17, By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations on earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”
God counts it as lending to him. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19: 17, whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and will be repaid in full. He said in Proverbs 21: 13, if you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard. He continued in Proverbs 28: 27, whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many curses. Giving is to satisfy a need, not to accumulate wealth for the receiver. The bible says in Proverbs 11: 24 some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. We invest in God by giving to the needy.
God treats it as sharing in his work. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9: 8 and God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. He continued from 2 Corinthians 9: 11, you will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. What is our motivation for giving?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we have withheld our blessing by failing to bless others with our substance and where we have given, we have done so grudgingly. Give us the grace to give in our abundance or insufficiency. Awaken us to invest in heaven where our investments will be eternally secure. Lead us to bring joy and hope to the needy and your church in your holy name, Amen!!
