Biblical Giving by Dan Lirette
Well, Beloved, today we’re going to see what the Bible has to say about Giving.
Dear Saint, the Bible speaks much about sowing and reaping, giving and receiving…however, there is a right Biblical teaching on this subject and there is an un-Biblical teaching on this subject.
In this article we’re going to look at several points, from Scripture, on what the Lord says concerning giving.
First, let us look to the Word of God on the Blessings of being a Giver:
1- Giving (a)honors God and (b)causes you to have your needs met (not your greeds but your needs)
Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
2- Giving causes you to fear God:
Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
3- Giving causes you to receive:
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
4- Giving causes you to be more blessed than if you simply received:
Acts 20: 33-35 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
5- Giving causes you to store up treasures in Heaven:
Matthew 6:91-21 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
6- Giving causes God to open Heaven over you and pour out a blessing on you and causes God to protect you from poverty and causes God to rebuke satan for you:
Malachi 3:8-12 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Second, let us look at the Biblical commands on how to give:
1- We must give as we purpose in our hearts and we must give cheerfully:
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2- We must give consistently and only as God has prospered us:
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
3- We must give wisely, especially if we have little to give (though we may see ourselves as having “little” the LORD sees us as having just enough to keep and just enough to give):
Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
4- We must give knowing that what we give is what God will give back (in principles of righteousness and unrighteousness; I am not speaking here of a duplicate of what you give but I am referring to the content of what you give)
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
5- We must give as one who is faithful to God and as one who does not give to receive riches:
Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
Lastly, who should we give to?
1- We are to give to those who are poor:
Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
2- We are to especially give to those who are Christians, those who are Born Again by Faith:
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
3- We are to give to those who teach us the Word of God:
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
You see, Beloved, when we take the above Biblical principles and put them into practice, then we’ll see God’s Hand of Blessing on us.
Giving isn’t supposed to be a tedious process of stressing yourself out to the max because you don’t believe you can afford to give.
We are to give no matter what our outward circumstances may look like, because God owns it all.
Does this mean we’re to give our last penny even though our light bill is due or our children need food and clothing?
NO!
For example, we may substitute our money with time and hands-on work for whoever needs it.
Giving isn’t about money; it’s about God and how He chooses to cause us to give.
Should we give of our money?
Well, dear Saint, we’re commanded to give. However, we’re not commanded to give only of our money, but we’re commanded to give everything for the sake of the Gospel.
Today, why not take a short time out to thank God for all of the many blessings, both material and spiritual, that He’s allowed you to have….why not seek Him and ask Him to reveal to your heart how much you should keep and how much he wants you to give?
May God allow you to walk in the principles of giving as listed above in this short Biblical Teaching.
