A Lesson in Giving

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. - Acts 11:28-30

    Agabus the prophet informed the saints at Antioch that there was going to be a great famine in the world, 'which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.' These children of God are held up by the Holy Spirit as examples to us. They exemplify the grace of giving.

    They were informed by Agabus of a need and were moved by the Holy Spirit, speaking through Agabus, to do what they could to help their brethren in Judea (11:28). Then they spontaneously deter mined, without any pressure but the pressure of love and grace in their hearts, to give for the relief of their Jewish brethren, people they had never met (11:29).

    The believers at Jerusalem had already sold their possessions and given everything they had to support their brethren and to see that the gospel was preached throughout the world (Acts 4:34-37). Had it not been for the generosity of the believers at Jerusalem there would have been no believers at Antioch! Now the saints at Antioch, in gratitude to God and their brethren from whom they had received the gospel, determined in their hearts to help their brethren in Judea when the need arose. Every man resolved to give according to his own ability. Each person's giving was spontaneous, free and unconstrained. Spontaneous giving is not careless giving. It is giving that is prompted by the Spirit of God, guided by the Word of God and carried out with thoughtful determination and purpose of heart (2 Cor. 9:7). By giving to meet the needs of their brethren, these saints at Antioch were following the example of Christ himself (Phil. 1:1-8; 2 Cor. 8:7-9). Taking the believers at Antioch as an example, I want to draw your attention to eight things plainly revealed in the Word of God about giving.

    1. If we would give anything for the glory of God and the honour of Christ, our gifts must be motivated by love and gratitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 8:7-9)

    The apostle Paul refused to give any commandment about giving. He simply says that our giving is to be a proof, or demonstration, of our love for Christ. We prove the sincerity of our professed love to Christ by what we give and why we give it. In this dispensation of grace, God has given us no laws telling us how much we are to give. Like all other acts of worship, our gifts must be motivated by love. 'The love of Christ constraineth us' (2 Cor. 5:14). Love for Christ is the key. Love is generous, overflowing and sacrificial. Love sets its own guidelines. Love is a law unto itself. Love determines what the believer gives, how much he gives and how often he gives.

    2. If we would give as unto the Lord, our gifts must arise from a willing heart (2 Cor. 8:12)

    That which is given out of a sense of duty, responsibility, debt, or legal constraint is not free. Only when our gifts come from willing hearts, only when they are given freely and cheerfully, are they accepted by God. The quantity given is totally insignificant to the Lord. It is not the amount given, but the motive of the gift that matters (Exod. 35:4,5,29).

    3. We should all give according to our ability, in proportion to our blessings (1 Cor. 16:2)

    Carnal men and religious legalists talk about percentages and specific amounts. But the New Testament never speaks of such things. Our gifts to the cause of Christ, the preaching of the gospel and the poor among us are to be based upon our ability. God's people are not tax-payers (tithers), but sons! We do not owe ten per cent of our income to the government of God's kingdom. God's kingdom, his church, is our family. When we give, we are giving to meet the needs of our family. What miser will be stingy with his own family?

    There should be an equality in giving too (2 Cor. 8:13-14). A few people should not be expected to carry the load for all. Each should do what he or she has the ability to do in the support of Christ's kingdom. Yet the poor should not be expected to carry the same load as the wealthy.

    4. All God’s people should give for the support of the gospel (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7)

    Men and women, rich and poor, old and young, all who believe the gospel should give a portion of their earthly goods for the support of the gospel. We should all be willing to share what we have for the common good of God's church.

    5. lf we would honour Christ in our giving, we must be both liberal and sacrificial in giving (2 Cor. 9:5-6)

    Believers are liberal and generous because they have been treated liberally and generously by God (Rom. 5:21; 1Cor.6:9-11). Giving is like sowing seed in the earth. A wise farmer sows his best seed and scatters it generously. That is the way we are to give (Gal. 6:6-10). We have given nothing until we have taken what we want, what we need, what we can use for ourselves, and have given it to our Lord (Mark 12:41-44).

    6. Any gift that is accepted by Christ as an act of worship, faith and commitment to him must be voluntary (2 Cor. 9:7)

    The Word of God leaves it entirely up to you what you give, to whom you give it, where you give, the way you give and when you give. There is nothing legal about it. God's people are not in bondage. 'God loveth a cheerful giver!' He will not have legal gifts of a grudging spirit.

    7. Whether our gifts are made in public offerings of worship, to private individuals, or to specific causes, we are to give as unto the Lord (Matt. 6:1-5)

    Do nothing to be seen by men or honoured by men. That which is done unto the Lord, for the honour of God, will be seen and honoured by him (Mark 14:3-9). In all acts of worship (prayer, giving, fasting, Bible reading, etc.) strive to maintain privacy. The minute you advertise what you do for Christ you expose a hypocrite's motive!

    8. This kind of giving is well-pleasing to God (Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:16)

    Give out of a loving and grateful heart, hoping for nothing in return. Of these two things you may be assured:

    1. You will never suffer loss by generosity (Luke 6:38). 'The only way to have more than enough to spare is to give more than you can spare,' said Oswald Smith. And C. H. Spurgeon said, 'Many a man becomes empty-handed be cause he does not know the art of distribution' (cf. Ps. 37:16-26).

    2. The more you can be trusted with to use for the kingdom of God, the glory of Christ, and the furtherance of the gospel, the more you will have to use. If you are willing to give, God will supply you with the ability to give (2 Cor. 9:10; Phil. 4:19).