What the bible say about giving is that God loves a cheerful giver and that God is the greatest Giving unites a community and bring smile to there faces.
Throughout the centuries, Christians have given generously and sacrificially for the cause of the Gospel. Christians have funded schools, charities, and hospitals. Christians have given time and treasure to rebuild cities after floods and fires. Christians have given faithfully to their local churches, to missionaries, to neighbors in need, and have given consistently in ways that others will never know. Following the lead of our Savior who gave all on our behalf, Christians are a giving people.
But how much does the Bible say we should give?
Is there a specific amount, or a set rule that we are required to follow? Does our salvation itself hinge on the amount of money we give, and where we give it? Does God really threaten to curse us if we don’t give a certain amount in a certain way? The good news for us is that the answer is extraordinarily simple: we are required to give nothing, yet it becomes our desire to give everything.
You Get What You Give “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6
Giving benefits the one who gives the gift and the one who receives the gift. Some have misread this verse to mean that those who give much financially will in turn be rewarded with much financially. This is wrong thinking and sets up a kind of ‘giving in order to get more back’ scheme. God will certainly bless our giving beyond all we ask or imagine and simultaneously provide for our each and every need.
Yet our blessing comes not from a financial return, but by the act of giving itself which grows us and draws us closer to Christ. There are no records of the apostles, or Jesus himself for that matter, living lives of wealth and comfort because of their giving.
God is the Greatest Giver “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10
God is the greatest giver. He gives us all things, and without Him, we are and have nothing. Just like a seed that brings forth a larger harvest than expected, when we give generously we can expect to see a harvest of blessing come from it. God will grow us in righteousness as we give in faith, and will use any gift we give to do more than we could ever imagine. We should seek such a ‘harvest of righteousness’ above any material wealth.
We also don’t give to receive accolades for our generosity. In Matthew 6:3, Jesus tells us to give ‘so that your right hand does not know what your left hand is doing. Our reward for giving comes from God, not from the accolades of others. There is nothing wrong at all with being thankful for one who gives generously, but that is not why we give. We give out of love of others and love of Christ.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
God loves a cheerful giver! This is a beautiful thought because of what Paul says (give cheerfully) and because of what he doesn’t say (give a certain amount). God doesn’t desire our giving to be done begrudgingly or under compulsion. Should you be pressured to give a certain amount (or else!) then there is something very wrong.
WHY ARE SOME CHRISTIANS NOT ENJOYING THE BENEFITS OF GIVING? Let us consider some variety of attitudes that can lead to this.
THE STINGY GIVER The Stingy giver has the attitude of the Children of Israel, who held back their tithes and offerings to the house of God. Mal.3:6-10. This is the same attitude of some Christians today, after been blessed by God, they held back which is for God.
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THE COVETOUS GIVER Some today have the same attitude of Ananias and Sapphira, who after been blessed by God, held back part of the price of their possessions, pretending to have given all to God. Acts. 5:1-10.
GIVING GOD YOUR LEFTOVER In Mal. 1:6-8, the children of Israel disregarded the Lord, as they offered polluted things to the Lord, and the Lord was displeased with them. This is the same attitude of some Christians today, after been blessed by God, they give to God torn and polluted money as giving.
“A son honours his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honour? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name.
Believers are to give in the following ways:
Generously Jesus told his followers to give to everyone who asks (Luke 6:30), to give to those who can’t repay (Luke 14:13 – 14) and to freely give what we have freely received (Matthew 10:8). Paul established the principle that what we reap is a reflection of what we sow (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Humbly There is danger in thinking that if we follow a specific rule, we have done everything that God requires. Jesus chastised the Pharisees for giving a tenth of their spices while neglecting more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). To suppose that God demands 10 percent — and nothing more — can foster an attitude that says, “This bit is for God, and the rest is mine.”
With the Proper Attitude Using a strictly legal principle of giving prompts wrangling over questions like: Is it 10 percent of gross income or net income? Of take-home pay only? Before or after insurance and retirement deductions? Instead, we are to give what we decide in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Therefore some better questions might be: How can I better manage my affairs so that I can give more? Where can I give that will best serve God’s purposes? Now that I’ve given what money I can, what else can I give?
The New Testament doesn’t contain instructions for Christians regarding the tithe, but there are many admonitions concerning giving.
● Giving should be an act of stewardship. God is the source of everything we have (John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 12:7 – 11), so in a sense, we own nothing but are only stewards of what is rightfully God’s (1 Peter 4:10) ● Giving should be an act of ● Giving should be proportionate ● Giving should be voluntary (2 Corinthians 8:1 – 5, 11 – 12; 9:2) ● Giving should be planned (2 Corinthians 9:3 – 5) ● Giving should be cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7) ● Giving should be generous (2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:5, 11, 13)
PRAYER Father thank you for giving me the opportunity to give and secure my future in you. As i sow my seeds in faith according to your word,I expect a bountiful harvest of blessings and miracles both now, and in the days to come in Jesus ‘Name’Amen.
Joy Chinonyerem is an ardent follower of Christ who believes in Living the Christian Life according to the tenets set by Christ himself.
She is passionate about Walking by Faith, as commanded by the scriptures and uses her blog, Walking By Faith Blog, to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
