From the church, the T.V. Evangelists, who seem to talk about and ask for money all the time, to the mailbox where most people probably receive six to ten solicitations a week for their money.

The causes presented may be good and very worthy causes. Wow! “What is a person to do?” you ask. “After all, no one can give to everybody, can they?”

No, you can’t! But you can do something. Do not allow insensitive and indiscriminate requests for financial support sour your attitude toward giving.

We must obey the word.  God expects us to depend upon Him and out of the blessings He bestows upon us He expects us to bless others.

We should desire to do whatever we can for others so that God will be glorified.

II Corinthians 9:10-13 (NKJV)

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God, while through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men.”

Giving to the work of the Lord is the Fruit of Righteousness, unless our giving is done through covetousness or other wrong motives.

We should always be thankful to God for His blessings and the ability He has given us to share our increase with others – for His glory.

In II Corinthians, Chapters 8 and 9 we can see many Biblical Principles for Giving. Some of them are:

1. Give in such a manner that you will be a good example to others.

2. Give liberally (generously; lavishly) and sacrificially.

3. Give willingly or voluntarily.

4. Recognize that giving is a privilege.

5. Give yourself first to God, then to His ministry, because this is His will.

6. Learn to excel in giving, for this helps to make you complete
    (well-balanced-well-rounded).

7. Remember that giving is a proof of the sincerity of your love.

8. Follow the example of Christ.

9. Cultivate a desire to give.

10. Keep your commitments.

11. Give in proportion to your ability.

12. Carry your fair share of the Lord.

13. Give so that your needs may be met and that you may be able to give more.

14. Give cheerfully.

15. Give because it brings praise and glory to God.

16. Give because of God’s indescribable gift to you.

II Corinthians 9:6:9 (NKJV)

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

The remainder of II Corinthians, Chapter 9 presents answers to two questions:

1) What does your giving do for you?

2)What does your giving do for others?

1)What Does Your Giving Do For You?

II Corinthians 9:6 states very clearly that our giving determines what we will get. Will we receive generously or sparingly from the Lord?

Remember!

"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Our giving will also reflect our heart attitudes. We have been asked to give that which we have decided in our heart.

As we are willing to give, God will supply increase and we can give more.

The more you give – the more you have. The more you have – the more you want to give.

2) What Does Your Giving Do For Others?

When we volunteer our service and finances, we supply the needs of Gods people (verse 12)

The local church deserves our commitment. The church is the primary agency God uses to carry out the work of Christ in the world.

It is important to faithfully support those ministries in which God has called us to serve.

The giving of God’s people:

· Promotes the Glory of God

· Demonstrates the faith and obedience of the Giver.

· Motivates people to love and pray for us as they have experienced blessings.

· Encourages other people to have faith in God because of your Christ-likeness.

Further Scriptures Examined

Genesis 4:3-5(NKJV)

“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground of the Lord.

Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”

The Bible does not say why God rejected Cain’s sacrifice.

Perhaps, as we look a little closer we may be enlightened as to a reason for the rejection of Cain’s offering.

Verse 3 states that Cain “brought an offering”. Verse 4 states Able “brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat”

It appears that Cain may have brought fruit that was not the “first”. Also, the word indicates that Abel brought more than what was expected.

Could this mean that Cain’s attitude was wrong? Could this mean that Cain’s offering was not what God had required?

In the matter of “giving” our attitude makes all the difference. Proverbs sheds some light on what God thinks of people giving for wrong reasons or evil motives.

Proverbs 21:27 (NKJV)

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent.”

Regardless of the reason, Cain’s offering was not according to God’s expectations, and was rejected.

When God receives our gifts to Him or to others He takes into account our motives for giving and the quality of the gift.

We need to always consider that God owns everything. We are stewards of what God entrusts to us. We must manage well for the glory of God. We should be thankful that we have been blessed with extra to share with God and others.

In Exodus 35:1-22 Moses appeals to the people to bring offerings to the Lord and to bring their giftedness into the temple to design and make the articles needed for the tabernacle. Let’s examine the results of the instructions of Moses.

Exodus 35:20-22

Vs 20 “And the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

Vs 21 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

Vs 23 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord.”

The chapter continues to state what the men and women brought to the tabernacle of meeting. Did you take note of the words “stirred” and “willing.” Only those of a stirred or willing heart responded to God’s instructions.

God wants us to respond to Him with a joyful and generous “stirred” heart. A heart that was “willing” to give back to God a portion of what He had blessed them with for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.

Let’s examine the last verse in Chapter 35 of Exodus.

Exodus 35:29 (NKJV)

“The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.”

Those men and women whose hearts were stirred gave because they believed in their God, their Creator, and they knew the importance of the tabernacle, or tent of meeting.

God can test us in many ways. Only He knows what buttons to push to test the level of our giving of material things and money. He loves a cheerful giver. His word declares it (Refer to: II Cor.9:7)

I Chronicles 21:22-24

Vs 22 “Then David said to Ornan, ‘Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord. You shall grant it to me at the full price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people’.”

Vs 23 But Ornan said to David, “Take it yourself, and let my Lord the King do what is good in his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering: I give it all.’

Vs 24 Then King David said to Ornan, ‘No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.’

If we are to make a true and pure sacrifice to God it should be of value, of quality. So many people want to give second best or what is left over. God honors first-fruits and quality. Our giving to God and others reveals our real priorities and the condition of our heart. Like David said, “I will not offer burnt offerings which cost me nothing.”

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV)

Vs 9 “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase,

Vs 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

I Corinthians 16:1-3 (NKJV)

“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.

And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.”

Luke 6:39 (NKJV)

“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.”

Acts 20:35 (NKJV)

“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.”

Proverbs 19:17 (NKJV)

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and He will pay back what he has given.”

Proverbs 21:13 (NKJV)

“Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.”

Matthew 5:42 (NKJV)

“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

(This pertains to those truly in need and not those who are lazy and will not work.)

II Thessalonians 3:10 says:

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

If a person won’t work, let them do without. It is wrong to give money to someone who is of the nature to not work.

Acts 3:6 (NKJV)

“Then Peter said, silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

(We may not have money but we can share who we are and the gifts God has given us.)

Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV)

“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.”

Illustration

A rich man was perplexed. He said to a friend, “It seems everybody criticizes me for not giving, yet everyone knows I have made provisions to leave everything I have to charity when I die. Why are they so critical?

“Well”, the friend said, “let me tell you about the pig and the cow. The pig was disturbed because he was so unpopular in comparison with the cow.

He pointed out that people were always commenting on the gentleness and kind eyes of the cow and that although the cow provided milk and cream, he gave even more. He gave bacon and ham and bristles – and people even pickled his feet. ‘Why is it then that nobody likes me?’

“Kindly overlooking the pig’s dirty habits, the cow thought for a minute and then said, ‘Well, maybe it’s because I give while I’m still living.’”

Do you think the rich man got the point?

It is only in sharing that which is good that allows life to bloom into a beautiful flower garden. Give lavishly! Live abundantly!

The more you give, the more you get,
The more you laugh, the less you fret…
The more you do unselfishly,
The more you live abundantly, the more of everything you share,
The more you’ll always have to spare…
The more you love, the more you’ll find,
That if life is good and friends are kind…
For only what WE GIVE AWAY…
Enriches us from day to day.
Author Unknown

© Wanda Onstad 2007
http://shekinahgospelchurch.com