THE CHRISTIAN GIVING

The Scriptures leave us with a discovery of how brimming the Word is with instances of giving. But it doesn’t suddenly close on such alone; it furthers on, plainly detailing the returns of giving.

Some trusted unearthing of the Bible sees us carting back three basic forms of giving which a faithful servant is expected to earnestly embrace on his sojourning in this life.

 

Direct giving to God comes first. Here, the believer gives directly to God. It’s oftentimes met when one dedicates or devotes one’s particular time to praise, worship or exalt the living God. Such particular time is solely spared to God, and for God, alone. It’ an ought for a faithful servant to excel here.

In the other form, the disciple gives whatever needful, yet available in his power, to the Church of God. It can well be taken for giving to advance the spread of the Gospel. This is mostly done and expressed in various Spirit-led churches or ministries. They can be finances, property, time or expertise frankly offered as sacrifice to the glory of God. The goal here is to ensure the requiring spread of God’s Word and even the welfare of God’s ministers or servants. A faithful servant isn’t supposed to fail actualizing this giving form as well.

The third and last form takes giving to some humane level. It’s one that is intended to meet the needs of fellow humans. Here, the needy are helped with no single regard to whatever affiliations they may have, or state they may find themselves in. The basic criterion is need. The help can be material, psychological or whatever may be deemed of need to the other.

In faithful actualization of all these three forms a disciple is seen doing the Word as far as Christian giving is concerned. As for what comes thereafter the Bible is clear: Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.—Deuteronomy 15:10.

A fair look at the famous John 3:16, we arrive at another wonderful insight on giving. This is the revelation that our giving is a perfect demonstration of our love for God, to whom the Word belongs. Wherever there is love, giving automatically follows.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God first loved the world, and then gave. He demonstrated His love by giving His one and only Son. Thus, we demonstrate our sincere love for God by giving in all these three Christian forms as revealed in His Word.