Why Give?

Did you know that GIVING is an essential aspect of our new identity as Christians? Giving is VERY important to God because He‘s a giver (Jn 3:16).

Did you know that the reason God destroyed Sodom was not because of the sin of sexual perversion, but because they had “plenty” and they did not give and take care of their poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49).

Did you know that there are more verses in the Bible about giving and caring for others than nearly any other topic?

Most Christians struggle with tithing, even though it is a command from God in His Word (Mal 3:10). People have a lot of reasons and excuses why they can’t give. Talking about this subject can make most of us uncomfortable, because we tend to be very possessive with our hard-earned money.

Jesus actually talked a lot about money in order to teach us how to handle it, and not to fall for its deceits (Mat 6:19). He also taught a lot about giving. He instructed people on how to give, (not to be seen of men), and then He warns us not to serve two masters and then He tells us about not worrying about money, how God cares for the birds, and because we’re much more valuable than they, He’ll care for us. And then He ends His discourse in Matthew 6 by saying, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat 6:33). He even tells us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:25).

Jesus said that motivation is everything when it comes to giving. “God loves a cheerful giver.” He went out of His way to sit and watch people give their offerings. He tells the story about a widow who gave two coins worth a penny, but her gift came from her heart. Jesus saw the rich people throwing their “pocket change” into the offering plate, and He said that the poor widow had outgiven them all. He highlighted the faith of the widow to give what she had out of poverty, as an example of trust in God’s provision. Paul also writes, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (Corinthians 13:3).

King David was probably the biggest giver in the Bible (1 Chron. 29:1-5) because he knew that all he had, he received from God. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants too” (Ps 24:1). It ALL belongs to God.

After David gave billions to the Lord, he said, “Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of Israel our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the Kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all” (1 Chr 29:9–12).

The reason King David was such a big giver is because he had the right attitude. He said, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein. … The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; (Ps 24:1)

Even the gifts and the talents that we have, ALSO come from Him.

“Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father” (Jam 1:17). Even all our aptitudes, even though we develop them, were set in our personality from the start. We were knit that way! “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Ps 139:13-18).

When discussing this topic of giving with my son, he brought up, “Greater love hath no man than this than a man giveth his life for his friend” (John 15:13). And the interpretation that he got right then is how, it’s not only about being willing to die, as Jesus did for us, but to give our time or resources, our help, everything in our life should be an offering and a living sacrifice, to help others. But you know what’s so intense? There’s not one recorded incidence of Jesus giving money. Is it because He did not have any? Obviously not. But perhaps to show that giving of ourselves is even more costly.

Giving is one of the most important practices that a disciple of Jesus should exercise. Because the attitude we have toward our money and resources directly influences the condition of our relationship with Jesus (Mat 6:24). How we feel about tithing and sharing our finances will also reflect on the level of giving in other areas of our lives.

Generosity is contagious, and it will spread from our money to our time, our talents, our abilities and our presence. As Christians we are taught to share what has been given to us with those who have less. But the lack of generosity and our unwillingness to share is also contagious.

Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 18:9–14).

All throughout the Bible, we are encouraged to GIVE, but we’re ALSO guaranteed abundance as we give. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine” (Prov. 3:9–10).

The only place in the whole Bible where God says, “go ahead and test Me” is in regards to tithing and He even promised that He’ll see to it that you’ll prosper. “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 3:10–12).

Throughout the Old Testament, an offering was something you gave, but the tithe was something you owed. It belonged to the Lord and it was paid to Him—it wasn’t a gift. On top of that, Israelites were encouraged to give voluntary offerings. These were an expression of thankfulness and gratitude.

Jesus was the greatest example of giving. ALL those who came to Him begging for healing and deliverance, He healed them ALL. There isn’t anyone who came to Jesus for help who was refused immediate assistance.

Let’s all desperately pray that we as Christians will reflect that same example of giving of our love, our time, and resources, and always giving the most liberating message of all. The Gospel!

I did a study on generosity and check out these many verses where God encourages us to give.

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• God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:6-8).
• Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted (Deut 15:7).
• It is more blessed to give than to receive (Act 20:25).
• When you give to the needy, do not announce it (Mat 6:2-5).
• I will give a full tenth to you (Genesis 28:20-22).
• Whoever loves money never has enough (Ecc 5:10).
• It is God Who gives you the ability to produce wealth (Deut 8:18).
• You cannot serve God and money (Mat 6:24).
• Don’t be greedy for money (1 Pet 5:2).
• Whoever is greedy troubles his household (Pro 15:27).
• Dishonest money dwindles away (Prov 13:11).
• Pay what you owe to others (Jam 5:4-6).
• A wise man thinks ahead (Prov 13:16).
• The plans of the diligent lead to profit (Prov 21:5).
• Sit down and estimate the cost (Lk 14:28).
• It is wise to store up wealth (Prov 30:24-25).
• Provide for your household (1 Tim 5:8).
• Be not one of those who give pledges (Prov 14:23).
• From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering (Ex 35:5).
• And they came, all who were of a willing heart brought personal offerings (Ex 35:21–22).
• Freewill offerings every morning, (Ex 36:3–6)
• Tithing for orphans, widows, and sojourners (Deut 16:16–17).
• Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you (Deut 16:17).
• David’s copious offering (1 Chr 29:2–3)
• Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced (1 Chr 29:9–12)