Knowing God Through Giving
Giving is a spiritual issue and in fact, a relational issue with God. In order to truly yield to Gods ownership of our possessions, we must evaluate carefully what may be the most telling evidence of our stewardship the part we give. Just as we decide on what we spend on an appliance or how much we will put in a savings or retirement account, we must also have to decide how much money we will give. Even to give nothing is a decision. Stewards are accountable in each decision to please the owner.
Many see the responsibility of giving as a burden. How sad that is in light of Pauls reminder that God loves a cheerful giver. Giving is actually a relational decision. In the process of making giving decisions we really establish our agreement with God about stewardship. As we continually decide to give, we constantly affirm how much we value our relationship to God as His children. And as Gods stewards, giving decisions are simply a matter of thinking through how He wants us to allocate His money.
The Importance Of Giving To God
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Have you ever realized what the Bible says about giving to God? As Christians, we are called to be faithful stewards of our possessions. The Psalms say that the earth belongs to the Lord- Psalm 24:1. As good stewards, one sure way we acknowledge Gods ownership is by giving.
People say I want to give to God not man. So why give money in church? First of, God does not live physically on the earth. But He has called His church the ambassador of Christ on earth. See how Hebrews 7:8 witnesses that Jesus does receive tithes in heaven though tithes are given here on earth. And here men that die receive tithes but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. It is wisdom to realize that God recognizes and recieves our giving, not men.
The Word Of God And Prayer Are More Important Than Singing
The times of praise and worship are very important for many people, including many people who gather to carry out the act of praise. However, we must not forget that the Word of God and prayer are much more important than singing. Music is very relevant, however, so is prayer and the Word of God. That is why there are books that do not have any song, they do not refer to music.
But, references to prayer and the Word of God, there are many, there is no book that does not refer to it. In the book of Ferns, there is talk of the first years of the church, of the first 30 years, and of the song there is only one very clear reference to the song, and it is when Paul and Silas sing from a prison, that is, it is not a regular meeting . Now in that same book, how many references are there to prayer and the Word of God? Well, a lot.
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Types Of Giving In The Bible Examples
1) The Willing GiverAbraham, who offered his only son .
2) The Big Little Giver The widow, who as she gave two mites, answered the question, What is giving and gave all she had and became one of the finest examples of givers in the Bible.
3) The Stingy GiverSaul, who wanted to offer the spoils of the Amalekites .
4) The Sacrificial GiverDavid, who refused to give that which cost him nothing .
5) The Covetous Givers Ananias and Sapphira, who held back part of the price of their possession pretending to give all .
6) The Consecrated Givers The Macedonians, who first gave of themselves to the Lord .
7) The Life Givers Peter and John, who had neither silver or gold, but instead gave life to the lame man .
8) The Voluntary GiverZacchaeus, who gave of his goods to feed the poor without being asked .
9) The Reward Givers Those who gave to be seen of men. They had their only reward here on earth .
10) The Unpretentious Giver The Samaritan, who made no show of his giving .
11) The Perfumed Givers The Philippians, whose gifts were an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God .
12) The Greatest GiverGod, who gave His only begotten Son for you and me that we might be saved .
Giving From The Heart
How you define generosity matters because the Bible has a lot to say about money and how we should think about it and use it.
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives because he wants to give. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Jesus looked up and saw rich men putting their money into the money box in the house of God. He saw a poor woman whose husband had died. She put in two very small pieces of money. He said, I tell you the truth, this poor woman has put in more than all of them. For they have put in a little of the money they had no need for. She is very poor and has put in all she had. She has put in what she needed for her own living.-Luke 21:3-4
We must remember what the Lord Jesus said, We are more happy when we give than when we receive.-Acts 20:35
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A Prayer For Generosity
Heavenly Father,
You are the giver of all life. You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. In you there is complete supply. I adore you, for King of Kings, yet you see me, and know me, fill me with your love, your presence, your joy, and your graciousness. You have poured out your blessings upon me. There is none like you.
Lord I confess that I have not always been the best steward of your gifts. Forgive me and help me to be more generous. I worry about my future instead of seeking first your kingdom. Help me to trust in you for my provision.
When I step back to get perspective, I remember your faithfulness. I am reminded of how you provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. You provided for prophet Elijah when he felt alone and abandoned. You have provided for me in the same way. You have never forsaken me. You have never abandoned me. Thank you for providing for my needs.
Thank you for blessing me with a home and family. Thank you for trusting me with talents and treasures that I can use to honor you.
Help me to be a better steward of your gifts. Grow in me a heart of generosity. Help me to see the poor as image bearers of Christ . Help me to be more charitable and open handed to those in need.
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Inspirational Bible Verses About Giving Generously
What does the Bible say about giving? There are many examples of generosity in the Bible that incorporate tithes and offerings. Other Bible verses about giving include nonfinancial contributions such as time and voluntary service. Learn how, when, and why we should give as Christians according to Biblical truths.
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What Did Jesus Mean When He Said More Blessed To Give Than Receive
tells us “Indeed, in Gods economy you will be more blessed if youre a spiritual conduit rather than a spiritual cul-de-sac. God wants to work through you so that you will be a blessing to others. If you have the capacity to address a need , be used by God to give to and meet that need. God will return the favor.”
When we give, we are putting ourselves in a place of humility and offering that God shows favor upon. God is looking to bless those who obey Him and pursue the things of His kingdom on earth! Now let’s take a specific look at 10 reasons why it is more blessed to give than receive.
Bible Verses About Giving
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,And He will repay him for his good deed.
He gives strength to the weary,And to him who lacks might He increases power.
So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,And will glorify Your name forever.
For the Lord gives wisdom From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Delight yourself in the Lord And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name Bring an offering, and come before Him Worship the Lord in holy array.
I will give you the treasures of darknessAnd hidden wealth of secret places,So that you may know that it is I,The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers
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What Are The Biblical Principles Of Giving
Having a clearer picture of what the local church is, we would like to turn our attention to the matter of giving to others. What are the Biblical principles of giving? What does stewardship mean and what are the guidelines that are given to the local church in the Bible?
Stewardship and Giving
Giving is a facet of a larger subject called stewardship. According to James 1:17, God owns everything because He is the Creator, Maker and Giver of all things so when we give, we are merely giving back a portion of what belongs to God anyway. Our stewardship towards God includes everything that we have been given and how we use this on behalf of the Lord and for the Lords work. We are stewards of the abilities, spiritual gifts, knowledge, money, in fact, everything that we have been given but today we focus only on the Biblical principles of giving. This giving is only one facet of our stewardship.
Five Basic Principles
There are five basic principles of Biblical giving.
Principles Found in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Principles Found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-14
What Is A Tithe
A tithe is really an Old Testament term. It was the gifts that the Israelites were required to, really the tax that they were required to pay. Nowadays we generally use it as just a way of saying give 10% of your income to the church. There’s nothing in the New Testament, in the sort of new covenant understanding of what it means to be God’s people, that encourages us to think that we’re required to give 10% of our income to the church.
In many ways the standards of the New Testament are a lot stricter in some ways, or a lot loftier, let’s put it that way. So we’re required to give generously, to give sacrificially, to see the relief of the poor, the support of the ministry, the spread of the gospel through all nations. So I don’t know. There may be some people for whom giving 10% is unwise. There are probably many people in America for whom giving 10% would be actually pretty easy, and in fact it wouldn’t really be sacrificial or generous.
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Four Types Of Biblical Giving You Should Practice This Week
by Paul Chapman | Mar 28, 2017 | Stewardship, Teaching |
Giving is Biblical. Christians are to be generous with our time and treasure. God empowers us to live above the sins of covetousness and greed. Do you practice these four types of Biblical giving?
Christians should be generous. Our God is the giver of all good things and He expects His children to give as well.
What Does The Bible Say About Paying Tithes
The Bible is very clear in Leviticus 27:30 where it says âA tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lordâs, and is holy.â And Proverbs 3:9 says, âHonor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.â Itâs critical to recognize that tithing was central to Godâs law. The Israelites didnât wait to feel inspired to tithe, it was expected.
Youâre probably thinking:
That was good for them, but what about now? Do I have to tithe?
This is a fair question, and thereâs no shame in asking.
Itâs not every day an organization asks you to give 10 percent of your income, right?
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Why Should I Give To God
- Giving is an act of worship. Whenever we decide to honour God through our giving, we acknowledge His ownership of our resources. Proverbs 3:9 says Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. This helps boost our confidence in Him, knowing that He is in control of everything.
- Giving encourages our trust in God. Our giving not only acknowledges the lordship of God over our resources. It also increases our faith in Him. The condition of the heart is in such a way that it is always in despair. Giving helps us to break free of fear concerning our resources and to solely look to God for provision. Malachi 3:10- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
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Giving frees us from the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:17 says Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. The Bible constantly warns us about the love of money. One effective way of releasing ourselves from the bondage and lust of the love of money is by giving. As good stewards of God, we are to take control of money not vice versa.
You Must Be Totally Sincere When You Worship God
You must do this act in full consciousness, intentionally, do it because you really want it that way, because your heart fervently longs to worship God. The Bible recounts when Jesus felt total indignation at those Pharisees who prayed in the streets, and even beat their chests for the Lord, however, in their real life, in their habitual life, they were not sincere with their acts of worship . They only did it as if to follow the masses and to simulate a spirituality that they did not have.
And remember that God cannot be deceived, and that He hates lies, so try to worship the Lord, with all the sincerity of your heart.
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The Basic Biblical Priorities Are Simple And Straightforward
Our God is a giving God. Giving is one of his attributes. Christians should take great joy in being able to reflect and share in Gods attributes through the act of giving. Should Christians exact a tenth of all their income to the local church? How are believers to gauge their giving? Both the Old and New Testament help us sort out and resolve the confusion many feel about giving. The basic biblical priorities are simple and straightforward. Giving comes first. The following six principles of giving teach us how to give:
1. Give Secretly
Giving is an intimate act between the giver and God. It is a practice that is privately guarded and secretly performed. Jesus says, Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven . We forfeit our reward with our Father in heaven should we openly practice and proudly announce our giving before men and women. The giver is accountable to God and to no one elseit is virtually no one elses business. The giver should seek Gods responsiveness in obedience to the act of giving rather than peoples admiration in the hypocrisy of exalting oneself ).
2. Give Generously
3. Give Purposely
4. Give Cheerfully
5. Give Sacrificially
6. Give Proportionately
Endnotes
Ibid., The few references to tithing address the abuse of the tithe . Hebrews 7:5-9 is the exception in which the tithe was brought out to prove a point concerning the priestly order of Melchizedek.