Some Thoughts On Giving

Every Friday evening, my family takes part in the American Chinese Fellowship downtown. I have been privileged to build wonderful memories and learn valuable lessons as the Bible study teacher of the junior high/senior high girls' Bible study for the past 3 1/2 years. Currently, I am teaching lessons that I write each week as part of a course I call the ABCs of Christianity. Every week, taking a different letter of the alphabet, we study a name of God, a principle of Christianity, and a country of the world to pray for.

The following is an excerpt from our "Letter-G" lesson this past Friday night on the principle of giving.

Giving

There is much in God’s Word about the topic of giving. Various form of the word “give” are used 1392 times in the Bible. Most of those verses talk about God as the ultimate Giver and all the many things He gives to His creation. Some of those verses talk about His desires for people to give back to Himself or to give away to other people.

Giving is an act of self-lessness, which is probably why God talks about it so often. He wants us to always be thinking of others, and not ourselves. The concept of giving does not just refer to giving money, although that is a wonderful gift to bless others with. The Bible talks about many offerings that God wants us to give. Here are a few:

* Glory to God – Psalm 29:2

* Thanks to God – Psalm 105:4

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18

* Ourselves unto prayer - Acts 6:4

* Ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God, dedicated to His service - Romans 12:1, 2 Corinthians 8:5

* Money and physical items to:
~ the poor/needy - Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs 28:27

~ the Lord's work - “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in My house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10


The words of the Lord on Giving:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

“Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom.” Luke 6:38

“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 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 Corinthians 9:6-7