How To Give
Nov 15, 2009
Several years ago a London newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money. The winner defined money this way: Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport everywhere except heaven; and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.” So simple and yet so profound.
We hear it don’t we? “Show me the money!” “It’s the economy stupid!” “Follow the money.” Our whole world is built on the intricacies of financial institutions, and it is very fragile at best. The Islamic terrorists were not only bent on killing Americans and wreaking an emotional toll on the American psyche, they were also trying to destroy our national economy. Without a doubt, 9/11 put a big crimp on our economy that we are feeling yet today. As the economy goes, so goes the nation, and our own pocketbooks.
Jesus spoke about money and possessions more than any other topic because He knew that where our heart is, there would be our money and where we put our money indicates where our heart is.
The church word “stewardship” means how we use all that God has given us including money, time, abilities, and the planet to name a few. The Bible talks a great deal about giving of our time, abilities, financial resources, and using our spiritual gifts to grow God’s Kingdom in both numbers and spiritual understanding. The Bible is replete with principles and stories of giving, but it is our job as Christians to apply those principles to the specifics of our own lives.
So, how to give—that is the question and that is our focus this morning and we look to financially support the work and ministry that God has given us right here and right now.
Before we get into our Scripture, I want to explain something very important. There are more opportunities for ministry and for you to give your money just in our church than we could ever give to and pay for because the needs are so huge. Neither God nor I expect you to give money every time we provide an opportunity for you to give whether that is an offering plate being passed or in the back of the sanctuary or letter that includes an offering envelope. All of these are free-will love offerings, and I want to emphasize the “free-will” and the “love” aspects of our offerings. An offering is an offering. The tithe however, according to the Bible is another matter. The tithe is expected of every believer and is the norm for our financial giving. Offerings are above and beyond the tithe as we give as God’s Spirit directs us to. In similar fashion worship, personal spiritual growth, and serving the Lord in ministry is expected of every follower of Jesus Christ. But God and I don’t expect you to be involved in every Bible study, program, or ministry opportunity that we offer.
With that understanding let’s look at our Scripture and Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian Christians on how to give: cheerfully, prayerfully, and generously.
First, Paul tells us to give cheerfully. Have you ever given God money and not been happy about it? We all have. We have felt pressured or guilty, or maybe we have been anxious about our giving worrying how we are going to pay some bill. The Bible says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Sometimes we do the right thing because it is the right thing, even though we might not be happy about it. Remember when your dad made you apologize to your brother or sister and you weren’t happy about it? Yet it was the right thing. Both apologizing and giving cheerfully is a far better attitude, and it indicates that your heart is in the giving as well. Giving from the heart is a much higher attitude than giving out of duty.
The Greek word used here for ‘cheerful’ can be translated as ‘hilarious’ and therefore can read, “God loves an hilarious giver.” Something that is hilarious is extreme, over the top, and uncontrolled. An hilarious giver is one who gives out of an almost reckless abandon. Contrast this with the Ebenezer Scrooge kind of giver who gives begrudgingly with a tight-fist, and a “bah humbug” attitude. Not very pleasant, is it?
This phrase “God loves a cheerful giver” can also be translated this way: “for a cheerful giver loves God.” Giving has always been a tangible and outward sign of love. A bride and groom exchange rings as tokens of their love. Obligatory gifts are just that—obligations, but giving gifts that are encouched in love are signs of an overflowing heart.
God loves a cheerful giver. No matter what we say, nor how we live, what we give to God is what we really think of Him
Secondly, Paul says in verse 7 that we are to give prayerfully and with purpose “what he has decided in his heart to give.” The reality is that we cannot give to every good cause or every ministry out there, nor to everything right here at SUMC. While our tithe is given to the local church, our offerings go beyond the local church to support many great Christian ministries; and sometimes we as a church support them as well—Operation Christmas Child, Ranch Hope, Neighborhood Center in Camden, Habitat for Humanity, Atlantic City Rescue Mission to name a few. Every day Sharon and I received mailings asking us to give to this or that ministry. We simply cannot support everyone, and so we prayerfully and purposefully decide which ones we can support either on a regular or irregular basis. A Christian magazine ran a cartoon showing a couple gazing romantically at a star-lit sky. As they stood there hand in hand, he said to her, “Just think, honey, somewhere, right now some Christian organization is adding our name to their mailing list.” Give with purpose and give prayerfully.
Third, Paul is exhorting us to give generously. He likens giving to sowing seed. If you plant 2 corn seeds, you will get 2 corn plants with 3 ears per plant or 6 ears with about 240 kernels of corn per ear for a total of 1,440 kernels. From 2 seeds we get 1,440 new seeds. This is a law of agriculture. Of course there are other variables such as water, few weeds, sunlight, good soil, etc. The Biblical principle is in giving we receive. Our giving comes back to us Jesus said 30, 60, 100 times. The truth here in verse 6 is that we reap what we sow. Planting a couple corn kernels doesn’t grow into an acre of corn stalks. The more your sow the more you reap. A word of caution here: just because you sow a lot doesn’t necessarily mean you will reap abundantly. There are mitigating circumstances sometimes that prevent a large harvest: things like hail storms, or drought, or flooding and even a bevy of raccoons can destroy your harvest of corn. So be careful that your motive in giving is to give and not to get. I am not talking here of prosperity gospel, the God-wants-you-rich idea. God definitely wants to bless you, but not necessarily make you rich by the standards of this world. God’s riches and the world’s riches are not the same thing. Does God provide for us in this world? Absolutely—even our daily bread. Jesus said that God takes care of the sparrows and the flowers, and He will take care of us as well.
The key here is to be obedient to God’s will in our lives and to come to the point in our spiritual growth where we can trust God to take care of us. We learn that kind of trust by stepping out in faith and by giving not what we have left over but by giving to Him first. I readily admit that I do not know why some Christians seem to prosper and others seem to always struggle financially. God’s ways are not our ways.
With all this said let me share a true story with you. In 1923 a 16-year-old teenager packed up his belongings in a blanket and set out for New York City to make his fortune. As he was leaving he ran into his neighbor, a retired canal boat captain. When the boy told him of his adventure, the captain replied, “Just remember—be a good man, give your heart to Christ, and pay the Lord all that belongs to Him.” Arriving in New York City, this teen found a job in a soap factory and practiced the captain’s advice. In time he became a partner in the soap business and some years later became the sole owner. One day he pondered the old captain’s words. He had made an honest soap; he had given his life to Christ, and had given one tenth of his income to the Lord. “What if I give two tenths?” he thought. And he did. He then gave three tenths, and then 4 tenths, and 5 tenths. He educated his family, settled all his plans for life and eventually gave all his income to the Lord’s work, and he prospered more than ever. Some of you know his name. This 16-year-old boy’s name was William Colgate. He gave millions to God’s Kingdom and left a name that will never die.
I am sure that all of us would love to give millions to God’s work. God is not looking for millions of dollars, but He is looking for us to give Him our all—our hearts, our lives, and our money and possessions. He wants it all.
How do we give? Even though we give it all to God, He lets us keep nine tenths and we are privileged to give Him only one tenth. 10% is all He asks. The Bible teaches that if we are faithful in little God will give us much.
No one can tell you how much to give but God. The Bible tells that if we claim the name of Jesus, we are to give 10% of our increase back to Him with the remaining 90% under His Lordship and control. In this letter to the early Christians at Corinth God gives us these guidelines on how to give—cheerfully with great hilarity, prayerfully with purpose, and generously.
If you cannot afford to give to God, then you cannot afford not to give to God. The Holy Spirit will challenge you to step out in faith by putting your trust in Him. When you do, it will be one of the biggest moments of your life—one you will not regret nor will you ever forget.