No man is giving scripturally until he is giving liberally. In Romans 12:8 Paul wrote, “He that giveth, let him do it with liberality.” Someone may ask, “But how much is liberal?” That is a good question and it deserves an honest answer. Liberality depends upon a number of factors.
Our ability determines our liberality. Some have a greater ability to give than do others. For example, here is a man who earns $100.00 per week and he gives $15.00 to the Lord. Here is another man who earns $500.00 per week and $15.00 to the Lord. It doesn’t take a person with a high IQ to know that one of these men gave liberally and the other did not. Liberality also is determined by present needs in the kingdom. The time may come as it did in New Testament days, that we will need to sell all we have to help one another.
Scriptural giving is also purposed or planned giving. Listen to the apostle Paul. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthian 9:7)
“These people had promised a year in advanced to help the people of Judea” (2 Corinthians 9:1-5). If it was scriptural to plan what one was to give to the Lord, then it is scriptural now. Yet, how many will plan or purpose what they give to the Lord?
It is important that our giving be regular if it is to be pleasing to the Lord. The Bible teaches that we are to give “upon the first day of the week.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) I am convinced that the Christian should give to God upon that given day. Furthermore, I am persuaded that we have a special obligation to the congregation where we worship. When we are on vacation, we should make it a point to leave our contribution before we leave town.
We should be careful that we give as not to rob God. A serious indictment was brought against the Jews of old. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation” (Malachi 3:8-9). No one would dare consider taking anything out of the collection plate. But on the other hand, when we fail to put into the collection plate what belongs to God, we are just as guilty of stealing from the Lord as the man who takes it out.
Now which is worse? To take it out or to refuse to put it in?
We must also give to the Lord sacrificially. There are many sacrifices being made for the here and now, but not many are made for the after-a-while. I often ask myself, “What real sacrifices have I ever made for the cause of Christ?” So many people are looking for an easy, cheap religion. How unlike David of old when he said, “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). David was not looking for a cheap way out. He refused to have a religion that did not involve a cost to him. If you really want to know if you are giving scripturally, ask yourself, “Am I giving sacrificially?”
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Billy
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