Resource
Sheet 1
What
is the Biblical teaching on WHY to Give?
As
a motivation to give, it may be helpful to see that the Bible teaches
that in the church we are to:
a)
Note the Teaching
1.
Give to those who are poor and needy
Mt
6:2 when
you give to the needy
Lk
3:11 "The
man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one
who has food should do the same."
Prov
19:17 He
who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him
for what he has done.
Jn
15:17 This
is my command: Love each other.
1
Jn 3:17 If
anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has
no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Thus
the church supports those with material and financial needs, especially
in the family of God.
2.
Provide for full time Christian ministry
Num
18:21 I
give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel
as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving
at the Tent of Meeting.
-
O.T. principle of providing for those serving God full time,
Mt
10:10 take
no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for
the worker is worth his keep
- Jesus
reiterating for those he sent out,
1
Cor 9:13-14 Don't
you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the
temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered
on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who
preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
- Paul
spelling out the principle for the church.
3.
Provide for running the church
1
Chron 29:7 They
gave toward the work on the temple
of God
•
an O.T. example of those who gave to
provide for a building;
Acts
2:44 -46
All
the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling
their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts
•
in the N.T. we find them sharing what
they had
4.
Give to God as a sign of our love
Mat
6:24 No
one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and Money.
•
warns against making money more important
than God. •
giving puts to death that materialistic
spirit in the world.
Mk
4:18,19 Still
others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries
of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other
things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
•
warns us that reliance on money can
stifle the work of God in you.
1
Tim 6:6-10 But
godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into
the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food
and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get
rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful
desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of
money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money,
have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs
•
shows that love of money can
lead us from God into sin.
Gen
8:20 Then
Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean
animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.
•
shows us Noah offering to God in thankfulness.
Gen
14:20 Then
Abram gave him a tenth of everything .
•
shows Abram offering a tithe in thankfulness.
2
Cor 8:6-9 So
we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also
to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel
in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness
and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of
giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity
of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you
know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty
might become rich.
•
Paul encouraged material giving in response
to spiritual thankfulness
5.
Give as an act of faith and obedience
Mt
6:2 "So
when you give to the needy
•
when you give.. Jesus expected
us to be giving.
1
Cor 16:1,2 Now
about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian
churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should
set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up,
so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
•
Paul taught giving in a planned manner.
2
Cor 9:6,7 Remember
this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever
sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what
he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
•
Paul taught that God will bless an abundant
giver but not the stingy giver)
b)
Think how to apply it in grace
In
every case, talk to the Lord about it
1.
Give to those who are poor and needy
•
Ask the Lord to show you people around
you who you can bless •
Ask Him to show you what sort of gift
you can give to bless them •
Ask Him how to give without making them
feel embarrassed
2.
Provide for full time Christian ministry
•
Ask the Lord to show you how you can
bless those who serve in the church •
Ask Him how you can show them appreciation
3.
Provide for running the church
•
Ask the Lord to show you how the church
could run more effectively •
Ask Him if there is something you can
contribute to enable more effective reaching out
4.
Give to God as a sign of our love
•
Simply give to someone who you sense
God wants to bless and love •
Ask the Lord to show you a particular
way they would feel loved
5.
Give as an act of faith and obedience
•
As you give, worship. •
When a need is revealed, respond.
c)
Final Reflections
•
Giving clearly reveals the state of
your heart fill it with love. •
Giving clearly blesses God love Him
by giving. •
Giving clearly changes people bless
them.