Giving is a sensitive subject among many church goers. The very thought of someone asking for a donation or giving to the Lord’s work has a tendency to spark negative thoughts in the minds of people. Despite this tendency, there are also many who believe that it is important to give.
Giving is a non-negotiable act for the Christian. Giving can come in many forms. It can consist of giving of one’s time, resources, knowledge, help, money, etc. While there are many ways in which someone can give, the focus of this article is on the act of giving money for the Lord’s work.
Introduction
In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul has much to say about the topic of giving. The context consists of Paul gathering money for the Christians in Jerusalem. The Christians in Jerusalem whom Paul was collecting the funds for were thought to be poor people. Paul tells us of his desire to remember the poor in the book of Galatians chapter 2, verse 10. The Bible also says, “For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain” (KJV, Rom. 15:26-28). Paul had his heart set on the poor throughout his ministry. One of the ways in which Paul served the poor was through monetary gifts.
Giving is a sign of God’s grace
Giving is not simply a good act that should be done. The Bible also tells us that giving is a sign of God’s grace. Scripture says, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia… Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also” (2 Cor. 8:1, 7). Paul makes it clear that he desired these Corinthian believers to grow in the grace of God.
He directly connects various grace gifts such as utterance, love, diligence, etc., to that of giving. When someone gives out of what he has for the Lord’s cause, it is truly a sign of God’s grace in his life. This does not mean that if someone gives, he is most definitely a Christian. Nevertheless, Paul makes it clear that when someone gives to honor to the Lord, it is because he is a recipient of God’s grace.
Giving is a sign of sacrificial living
But what type of giving is Paul commending in 2 Corinthians 8? Was it the regular tithe offering? Was it giving out of one’s abundance? While giving a regular tithe offering and giving out of one’s abundance are good acts, Paul has something else in mind. Scripture says, “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves” (2 Cor. 8:2-3). What an extraordinary example the church in Macedonia has set, for both the churches of their day and throughout church history.
First of all, the churches of Macedonia were experiencing severe affliction. They were not living comfortably but were rather suffering when Paul approached the Macedonians with the poor saints of Jerusalem on his heart. What an easy way to justify not giving to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
It could have easily been said, “Well, don’t you know that we are also struggling over here?”, or “I need to be careful with my money as times are tough right now,” or maybe better yet, “Being a good steward of my money during this time of crisis means that I should not give in case things gets worse.” The ease of justifying a lack of giving would have been all too easy.
Second of all, and to top it off, these Macedonian believers were said to have been poor. In other words, they did not give out of their abundance. They gave what they had, and it was an amazing display of God’s grace in their lives.
Giving is a sign of following Christ’s example
While the Macedonian believers gave in such a way, it can be easy for the modern Christian to separate himself from their example. After all, over 2000 years have elapsed since the writings of Paul. Things are different, and times have changed. Surely, the modern Christian must be at least a little more cautious with his giving.
Despite the fact that many arguments could be brought to the table as to why the modern Christian need not be like the saints of old, Paul roots sacrificial giving, not in the Macedonians, but in an unchanging Savior. Scripture says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Christ is the example for the Christian in all walks of life.
For a Christian to be established in the faith, he must have Christ as the foundation. The source of one’s giving must be that of imitating the Savior. Christ, although He was rich, gave up His riches in glory and took upon Himself the role of a servant. In His humiliation and through His giving of Himself on the cross, the believer is rich beyond measure.
Giving is a sign of future blessing
Finally, it must be noted that when one gives to honor of the Lord, it does not go unnoticed. Scripture says, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6). God has set in motion a law according to which whatever a man sows, he will reap in like kind.
It is impossible for one to sow to the flesh and reap according to the Spirit. On the other hand, it is impossible for someone to sow to the Spirit and reap according to the flesh. If one were to plant an apple seed, he should not expect an orange tree. This is a universal law that should be obvious among mankind, believer or unbeliever.
In the context of giving, one is performing an act in which he is sowing to the Spirit. This will always be rewarded in some form or fashion. It is also true that the more someone sows to the Spirit, the more that he will be rewarded for his sowing.
This does not mean that when someone gives a lot of money he will get a lot of money back from God. Remember, the Macedonians gave out of their poverty, and they become all the more poor. But something greater was taking place in the hearts of the givers. They sowed bountifully, and they certainly reaped bountifully, so much so that they have gone down in history as one of the greatest examples of what it means to give for the glory of God.
Application
Giving can be difficult for the average Joe. It can be hard to let go of that hard-earned money. On the other end of things, it can be easy to justify why not to give. This makes for a challenging topic to apply. The Christian must remember that Christ is the example when it comes to giving. He must also see that giving is a sign of God’s grace in his life and that giving is a sacrificial act. Finally, it wouldn’t hurt to remember that your giving will be rewarded. You may not be rewarded in the same way in which you had hoped, but nevertheless, whatever you sow, you will also reap.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You that Christ gave up His riches in glory that I might become rich. Please help me to fix my eyes on Jesus this day. Help me to see His generosity for me so that I might in turn become generous as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.