The Gift of Giving and Sharing
IN THE STUDY:
One of the more mundane gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of giving. It is mentioned first in Romans 12:8 among the other charismatic gifts. It is very definitely one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This gift is the ability to make, spend and use money in the service of God in such a way that it brings glory to Him. Paul in 1 Tim. 6:17-19 gives good instruction to the young minister on how to advise people in the service of their gift. Our stewardship of our possessions is outlined in many places in scripture, particularly in the New Testament. 1 Cor.16:2 outlines for us the manner in which we should give our gift to God: Planned, personal, proportionate and prayerful.
The gift of giving is elaborated by Paul in at least two places. Our gifts should be to those in need (Eph. 4:28) and our giving should be open and liberal or generous (Rom.12:8). However, this does not mean that our giving to people in need should not take account of their other needs. For example, an alcoholic who asks for money has a need, but his greater need is not for money to buy more alcohol for drink but rather food. In the same way, our liberality in giving is not the main end in itself. Liberal giving never justifies wicked earning, something corporate donors need to remember. Paul’s letter (2 Cor. 8 ) concerning the Macedonians and their giving outlines for us in a beautiful way our principles of giving.
All Christians have income before they are converted to Christ. The gift of the Spirit is not so much enabling them to earn more money, BUT what does change as a result of the Gift of the Holy Spirit is their new motive in giving and their objectives in their gifts.
IN THE PULPIT:
I believe that God wants you to be successful and prosperous. Failure and poverty are not God’s invention but are a sign of sin’s triumph and evil’s presence. Unemployment, economic injustice, poverty – these are not the signs of God’s blessing but the signs of sin working out in the lives of people somewhere. However, God’s plan for successful personal finances does not depend purely on man’s effort. The key lies in tithing i.e. giving one tenth of our total income back to God. Abraham commenced it, Jacob continued it, Moses confirmed it, Malachi commanded it and Christian people ever since have continued it.
1. Tithing puts God first. He had the first lamb, first harvest grain, first fruits.
2. Tithing makes you budget. When you give to God the first tenth you then plan what you must do with the other nine-tenths. Tithing encourages discipline, self-control and management of your budget. That is why tithers rarely have financial problems.
3. Tithing involves the believing family as a team. It requires a decision of all members and creates togetherness. Where a member is not a Christian then the Christian member tithes only what is in his/her control.
4. Tithing faces the future in faith. It is a faith test to give as God prospers you. We believe that God is able to supply our every need.
5. Tithing frees people from the great dollar hang-up. A tither trusts God and puts God first, and becomes free from the pressures of money.
6. Tithing proves the reality of your faith. For while people talk about trusting God and relying upon Him the tither proves what others talk about.
7. Tithing reveals the blessing of God. Those who have tithed throughout their lives know that God returns the blessings.
I commenced tithing from the day I earned my first pay at 18 years of age. Over forty years have now gone and I know the Lord has blessed us abundantly as we use the tithe as a minimum of what we give back to His work.
AMONG THE PEOPLE:
The stewardship of a Christian includes what happens to what you have earn after you are dead. There is a stewardship through your Will. Too many people leave their estate to non-dependents who are non-Christians. A Christian needs to not only give through his or her earnings but through the accumulation of his or her blessings.
Churches also need to learn how to give. No church can expect to prosper while it keeps all of its income to itself. Every Church should, at a minimum, tithe its income for others. No increase comes without discovering the secret of giving. A Brisbane man who last month won $260,000 has given every cent to charity. “I am a Christian man and if you are faithful in helping others God will certainly help you. God works in many ways and even this win is His chance of giving me a chance to help the poor and the needy”. That man’s own spirit is an example of those who throughout their lives have discovered the secret of giving. To give God’s way of raising money, but God’s way raising men.
I have had some extremely successful businessmen say to me over the years, “I wish I was doing what you are doing. I would like to work helping people.” I reply, “Many people can successfully help others. I can hire a dozen every day. But few people have the gift of making and giving a lot of money. Use the gift God has given you to make money, then give it, and we can employ lots of people to care for others.”
