Reasons to Give
Over the past few weeks Pastor Jeff Clark has challenged us to “Finish Strong” in regard to our year-end giving. Listen to Lee and Elizabeth talk about how giving has become an important part of their lives.
Giving is an act of worship
Worship is the celebration of who God is and what He’s done. We worship God not just when we are singing, but with every aspect of our lives (Rom. 12:1-2). Every part of Sunday is an expression of worship – singing, praying, giving, preaching, baptizing and communion. When we give, we proclaim that the Father is the giver of all grace, the Son is the author of our salvation, and the Spirit sustains us daily. Giving is a tangible expression of the fact that we are servants of Christ and that we desire to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength – all that we are and have. When we give, we show our desire to proclaim God’s greatness and to further His work. If we give wondering what we’ll get out of it, we haven’t truly given an offering to the Lord. Giving is an outward expression of inward gratitude.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. (Ps. 96:8)
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Heb 13:16; see Luke 12:13-21)
For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. (Phil. 4:18)
Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Prov. 3:9-10)
Giving is an obligation
Giving is a fulfillment of our obligation to support one another. In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 15:7-11; Haggai 1:1-11; Malachi 3:7-12) and in the New Testament (Romans 12:13; Galatians 2:10; Hebrews 13:16; 1 John 3:17), the family of God are commanded to give for certain needs. As a family, we are called to support one another (Gal. 6:1-2; James 2:15-16). Failing to give for such causes when one is able is therefore an act of disobedience. How else can we contribute to all of the needs of the saints, and obey this command in Romans 12:13 if we do not give?
Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. (Rom. 12:13)
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17)
So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin. (James 4:17)
The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. (Eph. 4:28)
If you love me, you will obey my commandments. (John 14:15)
Giving is a privilege
The churches of Macedonia were models of generosity in giving, even though they were very poor. They gladly gave out of gratitude toward God and love for their brothers and sisters in the Lord (2 Corinthians 8 and 9; see especially 8:4, 9). In fact, giving is a way we can become more like Jesus, which is certainly a privilege. As we give, we become more like God who “gave” (John 3:16) and like Christ who gave and gave up Himself for us (Eph. 5:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2).
Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become spiritually rich. (2 Cor. 8-1-5, 9)
Giving is more of a blessing than receiving
Paul reminds us of Jesus’ teaching that, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). We also learn that God blesses those who are continually generous. Giving is “more blessed” because we find joy when we fulfill God’s will for our lives. We find satisfaction in helping others, obeying God, and glorifying Him as the source of our lives and generosity.
My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:6-15)
Giving is the opposite of robbing God
If we don’t give to God’s work through the Church, we are robbing God. God owns everything and we are mere managers or stewards of what God has entrusted to us. If we fail to give, we are in essence saying that we own everything or that we don’t appreciate what He has given us. We are also robbing God of the glory due His name if we don’t give.
Can a person rob God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and contributions! You are bound for judgment because you are robbing me—this whole nation is guilty. (Mal. 3:8-9)
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1 Cor. 4:7)
Giving is God’s challenge to us to prove His faithfulness
God challenges us to give in order to prove His faithfulness to His Word. There are very few passages in the Bible where God asks us to test Him. But, in the matter of giving, the Lord says that we should give in order to prove His faithfulness. Giving seems paradoxical. How can I have more when I give? How can I afford to give a percentage to the Church when I’m in debt? The answer isn’t found in hoarding everything and hoping that God blesses you. We would just become more and more selfish. We can’t expect God to bless us when we are disobeying His Word. The answer is found in giving. “Give and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). As we step out in faith and obedience, even though it seems counter-productive, God will bless our finances.
While the Bible clearly discourages debt (see Romans 13:7-8; Prov. 6), it is possible for many people to give to the Lord while paying off a debt. For instance, if a man has $2,000 of debt on a credit card, he can most likely pay off the debt and continue giving to the church with a well-planned budget. It’s important to realize too that the Bible distinguishes between borrowing, debt, surety, usury, bills, and other kinds of credit. There is a difference between a mortgage where we are able to make the necessary payments for a house and exorbitant credit card debt racked up from unnecessary spending. Scripture permits and regulates borrowing money (see Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:35-37; Deut. 15:2-3, 7-9; 23:19-20, v. 20 allows charging interest on a foreigner but not a fellow Israelite; 24:10-15; Prov. 11:15, 22:26-27).
“Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the sovereign Lord, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all.” (Mal. 3:10)
Giving reminds us that God owns everything
Giving serves as a practical reminder that God is the owner of everything you have, and only asks you to give a portion of that for His work. Ever since the fall, we in our sinfulness forget that God is the King of the universe and that He deserves our total allegiance. We often deceive ourselves into thinking that we are the captain of our souls. Giving is a reminder for us that He is the sovereign Lord, and that He is the owner of heaven and earth (Ps. 24; Ps. 50:10). We should be thankful that even though God owns everything and has a right to whatever He wants, that He only asks us to give a portion to His work.
“O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name. But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.” (1 Chron. 29:11-14)
Giving protects us against sin and materialism
Giving helps guard against the sin and consequences of materialism. We are either slaves of money or servants of God. Jesus often taught about money and stewardship. He does so not only because handling money properly is an act of worship but because He knows it is a thermometer for our heart condition. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). If we love God, we will hold everything with an open hand, allowing Him to use our possessions for His purposes. A clinched hand cannot receive. But an open hand can give and receive.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matt. 6:24)
Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains. But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. (1 Tim. 6:6-11)
Giving acknowledges that God is the source of blessing in our lives
If we don’t give, we deny that God is the source of all our blessings. Wealth comes from God. In the Old and New Testament, God humbled those who did not honor Him or those who took credit for their own success (see Dan. 4, especially v. 37 and Acts 12:21-23. See also 2 Sam. 24:24).
The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. (Prov. 10:22)
Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life. (1 Tim. 6:17-19)
Giving builds our confidence that God will supply our needs
When we give, we have confidence that God will provide for our needs and be glorified. I’ve often heard Philippians 4:19 misquoted. We like this verse because it seems to teach that God will unconditionally provide for us. However, when we read this verse in context, it’s clear that Paul says that we can expect His provision as a result of faithful giving. This does not mean that we buy God’s love and care, but it means that He wants us to operate on the principle of giving and receiving. As we give to others, He provides for us. This promise is conditional.
You sent—a fragrant offering…And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen. (Phil. 4:19-20)
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38)
A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. (Prov. 22:9)
Giving shows that we trust in God to provide for us
When we give, we also show that we are seeking His priorities and relying on Him to provide. Giving is a tangible expression of our priorities. If God is first in our lives, then this will be reflected in our checkbooks. Show me someone’s bank statement, and I’ll show you whether or not God is a vital and dynamic part of their life. Those who are walking with Jesus Christ desire to give in order to show that He is preeminent above all things in their lives. When the Bible says that He is to have first place in everything (Col. 1), this also applies to our wallets.
So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:29-31)
He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. (Col. 1:17-18)
Giving remedies our selfishness (and selfishness can lead to poverty)
When we are selfish, it could lead to poverty. In order to teach us the importance of giving and sharing, God’s Word states that He may discipline those who are stingy and selfish. He wants us to learn the Golden Rule: treat others as you would want them to treat you. (Matt. 7:12).
The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will come on him. (Prov. 28:22, cf. v. 27)
A generous person will be enriched and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied. (Prov. 11:25)
Giving shows that we make God our first priority
The Bible teaches that when we are not making progress financially, it could be because we have not placed God as our first priority or tangibly shown this through giving. Have you ever felt that you were hitting a brick wall spiritually? Greedy people are like ponds – when there is no outlet, things become stagnant. If you are having financial problems, there could be a number of factors that need to be addressed. For instance, there may be unnecessary spending, or poor budgeting. However, the Bible says that when it seems like you cannot save; it could be because you are not giving. In our human logic, we think that by keeping all of our money to ourselves that we will have more. Just the opposite is true. As we give, we can expect God to give back. The Israelites who put all their money in their savings account while money was needed in the Temple, actually lost money – they didn’t save any. Giving to God is the only 100% guaranteed investment. We may not get back exactly what we thought we’d get, but He will bless us, be it spiritually, physically, emotionally, or relationally. We will see His response to our giving in this life or the next.
The sovereign Lord says this: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’” So the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai as follows: “Is it right for you to live in luxurious houses while my temple is in ruins? Here then is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. You have planted much, but have little harvest. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You are clothed, but not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” (Hag. 1:2-6)
Giving faithfully produces greater blessings from God
When we are faithful in giving, God gives us greater blessings. People often wonder, “What is God’s will for my life?” “Whom does God want me to marry?” “Which job should I take?” The real question is, “Why should God reveal specifics about your life, when you’ve ignored His general commands?” In other words, if we’re not willing to follow His revealed will in His Word, why should He entrust us with more specifics? When we give, we are showing the Lord that we want to obey what we do know and will obey further direction.
“The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” (Luke 16:10)
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matt. 25:21)
Giving proves that we are trustworthy to handle His true riches
God uses money to test our loyalty to Him. Each of us will have opportunities in life where we will have to decide whether God or money is more important. This may mean that spending time with the family (God’s priority) will mean saying “no” to some job opportunities. We will have a chance to cheat or steal, or “bend the rules” a little bit. It could happen with our income tax forms. It could be the temptation of taking home a few pens from the office. These are tests from God of our character and can be used to strengthen us. They can also be used by the enemy to hurt us. We can pass the test by relying upon God and obeying His Word.
“If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? And if you haven’t been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own?” (Luke 16:11-12)
Giving keeps us humble
Giving is a spiritual discipline that keeps us humble and helps us remember who God is and what He’s done. Money is powerful. The love of money is called “the root of all evils” (1 Tim. 6:10). We see how abusing money has produced scandals, indecency, as well as ruined lives and families in business, politics, and in entertainment. God uses money to force us to make practical decisions about where our allegiances lie. Giving to the Lord helps us keep perspective and to grow in humility.
Be sure you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today. When you eat your fill, when you build and occupy good houses, when your cattle and flocks increase, when you have plenty of silver and gold, and when you have abundance of everything, be sure you do not feel self-important and forget the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery…He made water flow from a flint rock and fed you in the desert with manna (which your ancestors had never before known) so that he might by humbling you test you and eventually bring good to you. Be careful not to say, “My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.” You must remember the Lord your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth…Now if you forget the Lord your God at all and follow other gods, worshiping and prostrating yourselves before them, I testify to you today that you will surely be annihilated. (Deut. 8:11-19)
Giving is necessary for the support of Church leaders
Sharing our resources is required in order for Churches to obey Scriptures about supporting leaders and advancing the Kingdom of God. Even Jesus Himself accepted support in order to preach and teach (see Luke 8:1-3). Buildings for ministry are expensive to purchase and maintain. Churches pay salaries for staff that work full time in order to meet the spiritual needs of the flock. Every Church has electricity, water, air-conditioning, and other bills to pay. Being part of the family of God means that each member has a responsibility to help out with the needs of the community. As each member gives, we can be good stewards of the financial needs of the Church. The Scriptures also teach that we will reap what we sow. If we do not sow in giving, we cannot expect to reap. And it states this in the context of supporting leaders in the Church.
Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor [this phrase denotes both respect and remuneration], especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his pay.” (1 Tim. 5:17-18; see also Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-37)
The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (Gal. 6:6-7)
Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth. (3 John 1:5-8)
If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you? (1 Cor. 9:11; see also Eccl. 5 about the consequences of covetousness and the futility of seeking satisfaction from wealth.)
Giving is an investment in earthly and heavenly rewards
Life on earth prepares us for eternity. If we have lived for God and have obeyed His Word, we can expect rewards in heaven. One way we can store up treasures in heaven is by giving to the church. As we give, we are showing that we care more about the eternal than the temporal.
“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41; see also Matt. 25:31-46)
“Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” (Matt. 6:1-4)
“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21)
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out—a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. (Heb. 6:10)
Giving is a concrete expression of our love for God and for others
It is also an act of self-sacrifice which should govern how we live as Christians. We are obligated to help the poor and the helpless, and as recipients of God’s grace we should desire to do so. But, giving is not something that is just done in emergencies or for the homeless. We can also give gifts during times of joy. Giving each Sunday could be a way that you help your fellow-Christian because your giving enables many of the ministries in the Church to function.
We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians… Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:16, 18)
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. (Rom. 12:1-3; see Rom. 15:25-29)
They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do. (Gal. 2:10)
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. (John 14:15)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? (James 2:14-17)
Giving is our way of “standing in the gap” for those who do not give
It has been estimated by some surveys that Christians spend more on potato chips and dog food each year than they give to the Church. Another survey showed that less than 20% of Christians give at all. This means that 80% of Christians who attend church benefit from the ministries and staff of the Church but give nothing to support them. Because of this, there is a need for Christians to learn about their responsibilities. Imagine what the Church could accomplish if everyone contributed to the needs of the Church which ultimately impact sharing the Gospel with the lost, helping the poor and needy, counseling families, and continuing the great ministries in the Church which disciple believers. Giving will strengthen the ministry, outreach, and stability of the local church which ultimately is a blessing to the family, community, government, and world. It should not be this way as the Bible clearly states (2 Cor. 8:13-14). But as long as there are disobedient Christians, the obedient ones will have to pick up the slack.
And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. (Phil. 4:15-17)
Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17)
