Giving In The Local Church Series

To Jesus, it was not a question of amount. It was a question of value and worship. Remember that God needs nothing and He is not enriched by the offerings of the wealthy. Strictly speaking, when people give from their abundance they may be sacrificing nothing.

This widowed woman sacrificed everything she had for God’s glory. She gave from the depths of her extreme poverty. She had little to give, but she gave it all. No one can give more than that.

Giving is monitored in heaven

Mark 12:41 - Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

When we give, it attracts God’s attention.

Here we see Jesus observing how much people were giving and commented on what He thought about the offering.

When we give to God, He does not consider what it is worth to Him but what it is worth to the giver.

Give generously

Proverbs 22:9 - He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

2 Corinthians 9:5 - Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

God does not want us to be stingy but generous givers. If it is of no value to us then it is of no value to Him.

Jesus measures generosity by the condition of the giver’s heart.

A generous giver experiences the joy of giving. To them, giving is not a burden but a pleasure and offers gifts as an act of worship.

Give privately

Matthew 6:1-4 - "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

We must understand that the Bible speaks about public giving as well as private giving. Both are important. Not everything we give should be announced to others.

Giving without telling others about it is a true test of our love for God and others. We should never try to impress other people with our giving.

Plan your giving

2 Corinthians 9:7 - So let each one give as he purposes in his heart….

God expects us to decide in our heart to do the right thing. Chaos can erupt around us when we do not plan.

Spend time during the week praying and asking God what you should give so that when you come to church, you have your offering ready.

Give to advance God’s work

1 Timothy 5:17 - Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

We are to give to support the ministry of the local church we attend. Pastors should be paid well. According to the Word, a person who has been taught the Word of God is to share their material goods with the one who taught them. Paul stated this principle boldly and unequivocally.