To give is a spiritual gift and ministry

We have seen how God gives because he is full of love. As God’s children we shall be like our Father. His love is poured out in our hearts. We have received his heart for others. Therefore, it is natural for a Christian to give of what belongs to him. It is part of our nature to share with others, quite simply because we have God’s life in us, we have been born again.

When Paul writes about gifts and ministries, the gift of giving is on his list (Rom.12:6-8). Many people have this gift of giving and some have developed it to an important ministry in God’s kingdom. When Jesus was on earth there were some women with a ministry of giving who financed Jesus and the disciples. (See Luke 8:1-3)

These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:3)

It is an important gift and ministry to bring funds into God’s kingdom. Among the first Christians there were many who served the apostles with their money and their property. They ‘put it at the apostles’ feet’ - they put it at the apostles’ disposal.

It seems that part of Barnabas’ ministry was to release money for the expansion of the kingdom through selling property (see Acts 4:34-37; 11:22-30).He seems to have been a real estate agent releasing funds into the kingdom of God. In our time also God is raising up people who have as their main task or ministry to raise money for Christian work. It is important to understand that this is a spiritual gift, it has to do with anointing, - an equipping from God which enables one to earn money for the Body of Christ.

Give regularly!

God is very organised in his giving and we should be, too. God gives us sunshine and warmth every day - completely regularly at fixed times! He gives us the different seasons with the same regularity. Try thinking the thought that God would neglect to give us daylight or would change the seasons around! What chaos it would be and what catastrophes it could lead to!

All Christian work has regular expenses and needs regular income. We must, therefore develop good habits in giving and not just give as and when we feel like it and in all directions.

Christians who do not take responsibility through good habits of giving create unnecessary chaos and problems among God’s people. The apostle taught people in the churches about regular giving:

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income. (1 Cor.16:2)

Give in accordance to your income and assets!

Jesus was very clear in his teaching about giving, that it is not the amount we give which is important, but how much we have left! We all remember his teaching when he was sitting by the temple treasury and watched the people putting their money in it. Many rich people gave a lot, but it was a poor woman who put in two small coins whom he praised:

“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.” (Mark 12: 43-44)

The first Christians put Jesus’ teaching into practice when they gave money to help those who were experiencing a famine:

The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. (Acts 11:29)

Be generous when you give!

God gives willingly and generously.He loves to show hisprofuse riches towards people. God gives, among other reasons, to help us to give:

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor.9:8)

Christian people will have something of God’s generosity when they give. They will be like the believers in Macedonia who, despite their poverty and their great trials, were so generous that they gave beyond their ability:

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. (2 Cor.8:2-4)

God’s word says that generosity increases one’s happiness and enjoyment of life. Jesus also said that there is great joy in giving.

A generous man will prosper; He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Prov.11:25)

Exercise:

Do you give regularly? How?

Relate an incident when you helped someone with your money.

Continue to memorise and add this verse:

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. (2.Cor. 9:8)