Giving

I once heard someone encourage giving to a charity say, “Remember, never give to receive; give to give.” That’s it? Give to give? Somehow that doesn’t motivate me much. To me, that sounds like, “Remember, never go to work and expect a paycheck. Just work to work.” Is this what God says about giving?

When Gary Chapman published his first love languages book (The Five Love Languages) in 1992, he launched a communication revolution. By categorizing how people give and receive love, Chapman’s research showed us that people often don’t feel loved and affirmed, even when they are. Loving communication, when not expressed in the way someone prefers it, can be misunderstood or even diminished by the receiver.Since the strongest form of love is not a feeling but an act of sacrifice, it makes sense that if we want to make someone feel appreciated, we will learn how to communicate love more effectively. Our giving must come from a place of authenticity and compassion. We have to understand the value that another person places on particular actions, expressions, and attentions. And we must give with that understanding in mind.If you truly love someone, how can your language enrich another person’s life? How can you give them the gift of love?Here are the five love languages with suggestions and cautions about giving each one.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Prostock-Studio

So what if you don't take issue with the concept of giving or even the concept of giving 10%? What if you, like many of the commentors, take issue with those you hand your money over to: the Church. Those who express this concern reveal two potential problems that need to be addressed.

God gives generously to you, and he calls you to give to others in need as his love flows through your life. Here are 28 Bible verses about giving to others, plus 10 creative ways to give.

Jesus viewed wealth and poverty in a non-discriminatory manner. He warns those who are wealthy that they have an important responsibility to give to the poor and that if they are not careful, their riches can lead them into evil.

Dear Roger,I’ve been reading the New Testament and it surprises me how often Jesus referred to money.For example, in Luke 21:1-4, “He commended the widow who did not have much, but from what she did have, she gave it all to the Lord.”He criticized the Pharisees for giving the tithe while they were rejecting the more important parts of sacrifice (Matthew 23:23).Of course, in the parable of the talents, Jesus declared that those who invest well will receive more and those who don’t invest well will lose it all (Matthew 25:14-30).So, I was taken a little aback when I came to 1 Timothy 6 and read how harshly the apostle Paul dealt with Christians who are not managing their money well! Can you please draw for us some lessons from Paul’s teaching? How am I supposed to handle money?Sincerely, MarkDear Mark,I think that the best way to answer your question is by moving through 1 Timothy 6 verse by verse, gleaning Paul’s meaning. You’ll notice that each statement is a critical key to how God intended for us to handle money wisely and well.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/HappyNati

Having nothing to give shows itself in many ways in our lives. It begins with questioning ourselves and our worth. As a result, we start to see ourselves and the world around us negatively. As we face our own lack, hopelessness creeps its way in and we allow distance to grow between ourselves and God, and even the people closest to us. More than ever, these are the times we need a spark of hope. This is when we need a reminder that God loves us no matter what, and that He will provide something in our hearts to give.

The Bible tells us, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." Learn more about the meaning of stewardship and it's importance today.

One of the first lessons I learned as a new believer was about the privilege and responsibility Christians have to support local churches. Because God has chosen to use the church, the body of Christ, for evangelism, teaching, training, ministry, and benevolence, it’s crucial that we invest first and foremost in the church. But what about giving above and beyond our commitment to the local church? Perhaps God has blessed you with a surplus or a desire to sacrifice your time, talent, or treasure. How can you invest in God’s kingdom? Where should you give? Here are 10 suggestions: Photo Credit: Unsplash/Andrew Santellan

With God’s example of unconditional love through Christ, surely we should be willing to give sacrificially too, right? But does this mean we should give others whatever they ask of us?

Years ago, I watched the movie, The Money Pit. The main characters made a foolish purchase of a house that fell apart, piece-by-piece. Soon their relationship started crumbling too. I remember thinking, “I want to be wise with money—it can a powerful tool for good, but it can cause destruction too!” Sometime after that, my pastor shared Paul’s caution to church leaders in 1 Timothy 3:3. Paul urged them to be “free from the love of money.” I thought, “That’s wise counsel for all Christ-followers.”To develop a healthy, biblical relationship with money, we must build on this truth: God owns us and everything we have, and it is only as we wisely steward His resources we discover not only a thriving relationship with Him, but with money and possessions as well.The love of money is a heart problem. It is a choice to pursue wealth for sheer luxury or selfish consumption instead of looking at life from a biblical, eternal perspective and accumulating money and resources as a powerful tool to bring glory to the Lord.There’s a fine line of difference sometimes, but here are 10 signs you might love money:Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Sharon McCutcheon

The Reverend Billy Graham said, “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” He stated a simple yet powerful truth: the way we handle money says something about how we handle ourselves.As believers, we know that God provides for us, and works to meet all our real needs. But we can sometimes confuse needs with wants, which leads to wishing either for more money or more stuff.Thankfully, God provides a way for us to navigate through the tests and temptations the world presents. Scripture has cautions, lessons and examples of dealing responsibly with money. And if we submit to God’s teaching, we’ll rise to new levels of financial, emotional, and spiritual health.Photo credit: Unsplash/JP Valery

It wasn’t until I was in my 20s when I gave the tradition of tithing any real consideration. Prior to that, I viewed giving money to the church simply as something people did whether or not they actually knew why they were doing it.But once I started examining the history behind tithing, I discovered how important tithing truly is. Tithing shows our appreciation for our loving God, and also allows those who serve Him to keep spreading His message of hope and love far and wide.Let’s briefly explore 5 common questions people have about tithing.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/MARIAMARTAGIMENEZ

Choosing the right organizations to support is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, do your research, reach out with questions, and pray about it. With God leading you and having an open heart and fist, you can't go wrong.

The sin of greed can be defined as the excessive desire to acquire something. The most familiar form of greed pertains to material wealth.

The truth is, we’re all beggars in desperate need of Jesus. God didn’t ignore us or withhold what we need most. He showed compassion and gave His beloved Son. So, how would Jesus respond to beggars? With compassion, mercy, and great love.

It is biblical to tithe, but Jesus teaches that your giving should flow out of knowing that God is your source and you are gladly choosing to honor him with your giving. When that is your attitude, that’s when the blessing of sowing and reaping happens.

Giving impacts how effective a church will be in reaching out to the local community and into the world beyond. Our tithes and offerings can turn into rich blessings for others.While I learned this truth early in my Christian walk, I have to admit that it took me a while to embrace doing it. Studying what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letters opened my eyes to the potential benefits of giving for everyone involved.Paul urged his readers to make giving a natural and regular part of their Christian walk. He saw it as a way for believers to care for each other and to stay unified in purpose. Not only that, Paul understood the importance righteous giving has on a Christian's future. The teachings of Jesus, such as this one from Luke, were never far from his thoughts:'Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.' (Luke 12:32-34)Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/NoLiMiT_Bkk

Our perspective changes when we realize that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Whatever we give was never ours to begin with, and giving it cheerfully brings joy.

The most important thing you can do is to be an example to your children. How can we expect them to give freely if they don't see you giving?Just as we are to be Christ's example in every area of our lives, we can also be a good example through our giving. Although it takes faith to tithe, especially when money is tight, it demonstrates that God is a good God that provides for his children.