The way we give
is an indication of our love for God. All things belong to
God. God says in Psalms 50:10, "For every beast
of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills."
Everything we have received has come from God. God has only loaned
them to us. John 3:27 says, "A man can receive nothing
unless it has been given to him from above." We can never
out-give God. In Luke 6:38 we read, "Give and it
shall 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." We give so
the Lord’s church can better carry out its mission here on earth.
The world must be evangelized, and the church must be
edified, and the needy must be helped.
Giving is a command
of God. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, "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." We see the
giving here was to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. Notice also
they were to make a regular collection every first day of the
week.
Because of
everything God has given us, including His Son to die for us, we should be
anxious to give back to Him. In 2 Corinthians 8:12 we read, "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted
according to what one has, and not according to what he does not
have." God expects us to give what we are able to give.
How can our love for God be real unless it is expressed in our obedience
and our giving? Our giving is an expression of love, and act of
praise, and sacrifice to God.
How we give is an
indication of where our priorities are. Jesus says in Matthew
6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth and rust
destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also." Where is your
heart?
Since we can’t
out-give God, we should at least be liberal in our giving. As we
read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "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." Our giving is to be planned. We should not
give because we feel we have to give. Nor should we resent that we
need to give to please God. We should be glad that we can give to
the Lord.
We should never try
to impress other people with our giving. If we do we already have
our reward. Giving needs to be a private matter. We should not
seek recognition for the things we do. Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4,
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds
before men, to be seen of 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 should seek the approval of
God and not the glory of men.
Our giving should
not only include material possessions but we must first give ourselves to
God. We are told in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you
therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service." If we will first give ourselves to the Lord, we
will have no problem in being liberal in our giving. Our liberal
giving is part of worshipping God "in spirit and in truth."
Questions Lesson 14
Our Giving
(click on the button of the answer of your
choice)
1) (John 3:27) Everything we have
We have obtained it ourselves without God’s help.
Some person has given it to us.
God has given to us.
2) Nothing we have has come from God.
3) (Luke 6:38) When we give
We will receive nothing in return from God.
We will receive from God much more than we gave.
We will receive very little from God.
4) We can never out give God.
5) (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Giving is
A command of God.
Something we can do if we want.
Not a command of God.
6)The Lord's church is to make a regular collection every
first
day of the week.
7) (2 Corinthians 8:12) When we give
We should give grudgingly.
We should give because we have to give.
We should give willingly.
8)God does not expect us to give as we have been
prospered.
9) (Matthew 6:19-21) We should lay up our
treasures
In Heaven.
On the earth.
In the bank.
10) If our treasure is in Heaven, our heart will be there
also.
11) (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) God loves
One who does not give.
One who gives grudgingly.
One who gives cheerfully.
12) We should give grudgingly and because we have to.
13) (Matthew 6:1-4) How should we do our charitable
deeds?
To be seen of men.
For our own glory.
Not to be seen of men.
14) We should give to impress people.
15) (Romans 12:1) What should we do for God?
Nothing.
Give our bodies as a living sacrifice.
As little as we can.
16)
If we first give ourselves to God, we will have no problem
with giving liberally.