The importance of giving
Giving is a major responsibility we are asked to undertake to help us mature into full adult sonship. In giving we are following Jesus’ example, who gave all that He had so we might enter into full fellowship with God (Philippians 2:5-10). Adopt a lifestyle of giving and you will find greater levels of maturity coming to you (Luke 14:33; 18:18-22). Through our wilderness journey God taught us these simple guidelines for giving so we could understand what is important to Him.
Please remember that money is only all a small but important part of what you possess. Even if you have little or no money, you will still have possessions, life experience, skills and spiritual truth all of which can be offered to others as a sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). God looks at all that you have and what you give and judges accordingly. Keep this in mind, as well as these simple guidelines, to help guide you as you learn to give as God does.
Guidelines for giving
Matthew 22:17-21.
Paying your taxes will help teach you how to be responsible as a member of the society you live in.
Psalm 37:21, Matthew 18:23-34.
Indebtedness is a form of slavery that can and will keep you from financial and spiritual freedom. Paying your debts will help teach you how to be responsible with the money that you have. It will remove the bondage of financial slavery from your neck. Maturing in this area will help you understand one of the many ways satan tries to enslave people (Proverbs 22:7).
1 Timothy 5:8.
Taking responsibility for the welfare of your family is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. If you are faithful in this area God can and will entrust you with caring for His sheep.
Luke 21:1-4, Acts 3:6, Malachi 1:13-14, Luke 16:12.
Giving out of what you have and not what don’t have will keep you from debt and the enslavement that comes with debt.
Luke 11:41-42.
Using wisdom when giving will mature you in relying on God’s direction and strengthen your confidence in Him. As you learn and mature your giving will become pure and God can and will reward you with greater responsibility.
Talk to Jesus first about where He wants you to give (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, Colossians 2:2-4).
Emotional manipulation and persuasive arguments (both subtle and overt) are often used by fundraising organizations. This is especially true in religion but also can be practiced by individuals. These tactics, however, are witchcraft because they seek to violate and override the free will of the individual.
By learning to wait on Jesus for direction in your giving, your trust in Him will grow and mature. You will have learned to exercise your free will by saying ‘No’ to the witchcraft used by others. Be especially careful and watchful for the spirit of poverty in a person or organization. The spirit of poverty feels it never has enough whether the person is rich or poor. It will suck your resources dry without a second thought. Be very wise in where you give and follow the leading of God. Learn to recognize the telltale signs and code words of the spirit of poverty and avoid it.
Giving to the widow, the orphan, the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:17-19; 24:17-22; 27:19, Psalm 146:9, Zechariah 7:9-10, Malachi 3:5, Hebrews 13:2) and the Levite (Numbers 18:25-32) directly will mature you in your relationships with others. By taking responsibility for your giving and by giving directly to people you will mature in humility and how to show love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) without an intermediary. This will also require you to grow in the exercise of your free will by having to face others that are different from you.
Also in giving directly to people you will be blessed directly through many ways. You never know what spiritual return you will receive. If you give to organizations and organized religion you may not be blessed as these may have unholy altars (Exodus 20:25, Leviticus 10:10, Isaiah 57:6, Hebrews 5:13-14). However the organic church can collectively give to others if the church is in full agreement as to where the resources should be given. The blessing of God will come to the whole church is cases like these.
Matthew 6:1-21, Luke 14:12-14.
When a person gives in such a way as others can see them and praise them for their giving they have received their reward in full. God will not add to it. This denies the person who gives, the full blessing that God desires to give them. By giving in secret, anonymously with only God watching, God alone is your reward and He is free to give you what He wants. This action undermines fear and builds faith. You learn to trust in God for the continued blessing that comes from a life of giving.
Abraham’s fears in dealing with the king of Sodom in Genesis 14:18-15:1, King Amaziah’s fear over money in 2 Chronicles 25:9 and Hebrews 13:5 illustrate that God can easily provide for us what we need.
1 Chronicles 29:9, Psalm 112:9, Proverbs 11:24-25, Luke 14:33. 2 Corinthians 8:9, 9:6 .
Fear is a major opponent to the life of faith in God. Overcoming that fear is the main reason we want to mature in giving. When we give freely and generously we are facing and overcoming our fear of lack. We are also building faith in our God that He will provide for our every need. The more generous you become the more you are becoming like Jesus. Keep in mind that generosity also needs to be tied to wisdom and love so that you mature in giving and are not used by unscrupulous people and those with the spirit of poverty.
Exodus 36:3-6. 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Being a cheerful giver and not giving in a begrudging manner deals with our inner attitude towards our possessions. To mature in giving means that our possessions no longer possess us but God begins to possess us. When you can give cheerfully, with gladness, the process of letting go of your possessions internally has begun. This will mature over time.
In Leviticus 3:16-17 God allowed the people to celebrate with their offerings (Nehemiah 8:8-12). The feast is to be a rest from giving where God gives back to you what you have already offered.
Giving all the time can be a burden as Jesus said, ‘The poor you will have with you always…’ (Matthew 26:11). God ordained a special time where our gifts were to be spent on ourselves as a gift from God directly to us. As you mature and are responsible in your giving this periodic rest from giving will help you learn to mature in receiving as well.
We hope that as you mature in your relationship with God He will guide you in your giving. These guidelines for giving are not comprehensive and only to guide. As you follow Jesus He will give you specific directions where to give. May Jesus create in you a generous heart, full of good fruit. much like His own.
Blessings,
Homer and Wanda
Thanks Homer, you and I look at giving in the same light. In all areas of life we can give and sacrifice as God nudges and with wisdom. I don’t know about you but it’s sometimes harder to receive…then I know my pride is rearing it’s ugly head.
You are welcome Gary. Yes we are a lot alike. Both Wanda and I really had to go through a lot to learn how to receive graciously. Very humbling. Thank you and may His rich blessings be with you!
Thanks for the guidelines. I enjoyed reading through these. Prayer for Wisdom is important in giving. I remember some years ago, going through a period of not working and God used that season to begin teaching me more about offerings, And how to give of my time.
You are so welcome! Bless you!
Blessings to you too!
Wow! This is a deep post on giving. Most people belive that the only thing you can give is money. I especially like the fact that you stated that there is a period of rest where God gives back to you what you have offerred. If you notice, the churches like to receive and receive and most of them do not give back to the members. Some will give to charities and communities, but what about the members who have been consistently paying their ttithes and offering. Thank you for sharing. I will share on my Facebook.
Thank you. Yes we find that most churches focus solely on maintaining their own existence which drives fear and demands for more money. Interesting dynamic is that the more they want the less generous they become which drives people away. When people leave they take all of their resources with them.
When we are stingy in giving we end up harming ourselves and others. We have learned that the more generous we are the more He gives. This blesses us and others. If churches understood this principle better it would certainly help them, increasing their ability to spread blessing to those in the congregation and the community.
Thank you for the comment Beverley and the share! Blessing to you.
Indeed! The churches should take the time to learn about the concept of giving. Unfortunately, most of the prefer to focus on the scropture in Malachi 3:10. After the hurricane in 2017, everyone was devastated and would you know that some of the churches were insisting that the members who were roofless and most jobless ensure that they bring their tithes and offering to church.
I am appalled but not very surprised. Selfishness can grip a church as easily as it grips any individual. At a time of crisis, when congregants are most needy, all money should be pooled and distributed equally to the members. Helping the poor and distressed is far more valuable than keeping the lights on in a building. I am grieved to hear this account Beverley. May God have mercy in those churches.
I think so too. It also grieved my heart that there is little compassion in the church. It is mostly about tithes and offering. Keep up the good work Homer and continue to let your voice be heard. We really need to kill self before God put His hand on the Church.