The habit of giving touches the heart of the Christian life. Our life in Christ is possible because "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
See All...). Love is at the center of our life in Christ but giving is the first and most direct result of love. Love to someone is proven in a willingness to sacrifice for that person. Jesus Christ expressed the importance of giving when He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
See All...). And, though we tend to measure everything in terms of dollars, the giving to which Christ refers is much more than just money. It includes all we are and all we have.

THE GIVING OF CHRIST

Galatians 1:3-4 [3] Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, [4] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
See All...; 2:20But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
See All... - Jesus Christ "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world." Notice in Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
See All... that Christ "loved me" and as a result "gave himself for me." No wonder that Paul expressed his gratitude with these words, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
See All...). Over and over again in the New Testament (see Matthew 20:28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
See All...; 1 Timothy 2:6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
See All...; Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
See All...), we are told how that Jesus Christ gave His very life for our sakes. Sacrificial giving is central to everything that is identified with Christ and Christian living.

2 Corinthians 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
See All... - How do we know or experience the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ"? We know it by the fact that "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." Jesus Christ "took upon him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
See All...) and "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (verse 8) so that we might be "joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
See All...). Obviously, to be Christ-like, we must learn sacrificial giving.

THE GIVING OF OURSELVES

2 Corinthians 8:5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
See All... - Paul tells of the Macedonians who did more than just give for the needs of others, "but first gave their own salves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." True Christian giving begins with the giving of ourselves to the Lord. Paul beseeched the Romans to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
See All...). More than anything else, God wants you. And, anything you give without giving yourself is only a token of what you truly owe to the Lord.

So many times, when we talk about giving, people think only of dollars and cents. There are many things that can be given to the Lord apart from money. How many things can you name that we should be giving to the Lord?

GIVING TO THE SAINTS

Romans 12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
See All... - As Christians we should be, "Distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality." Those Christians who have this world's goods should be "rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (1 Timothy 6:18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
See All...). Notice that these commands are not to the church but to individual Christians. Many are ready today to tell churches what they should be doing for the poor. However, the Biblical command to help those in need is always given to individual believers. This is not to say that churches are refrained from helping the poor, only that the bulk of the responsibility goes to the individual. Believers ought to be ministering to other believers who are in need. It does not have to be brought to the church for a vote. When you see a believer in need and the Lord tugs at your heart concerning their need, reach into your own billfold and be a blessing to them.

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 [13] For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: [14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: [15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
See All... - Paul tells the Corinthians that his purpose in them giving is not that "other men be eased, and ye burdened." Rather, he desires that their present "abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality." He is not suggesting the equality of communism where the goods of the wealthy are taken from them but the equality of Christian love. We are to gladly give to others out of our abundance knowing that God will use another to minister to us in our time of need.

GIVING TO THE POOR

James 2:15-16 [15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
See All... - James teaches us that immediate action is required when a fellow Christian is lacking in either of two areas (see verse 15): if 1) they are naked [without adequate covering] or if 2) they need daily food. When we see this kind of desperate need in a brother or sister in Christ, we are to give them "those things which are needful to the body." What are some things that we might not be required to give them? What are some situations that might require careful consideration before giving to others.

Proverbs 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
See All... - What about those who are not Christians? Are we commanded to help them as well? As God leads, we should be ready to help any who are in need. "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." That is a pretty good promise. The same thing was true under the law (Deuteronomy 15:7-8 [7] If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: [8] But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
See All...). They were not to harden their heart or shut their hand to a poor brother. But, rather, they are told to "lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth." The giving is personal and is to be applied to a particular need. The giver, therefore, has the right to make sure that the gift is used for a particular need. Sometimes the best thing is not to hand the person money but to buy them groceries, pay their utility bill, etc. The giver is expected to be careful in how he helps others.

GIVING TO THE WORK OF CHRIST

The scriptures say much about the support of God's work on earth by the people of God. This, of course, includes much more than money. But it does include money. One of the greatest blessings in our service to God is the opportunity to help financially in God's work. Giving of this sort recognizes the fact that God owns all we have and is certainly worthy of a portion back. It also places us in His caring hand. Paul told those Philippians who had given so sacrificially, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19
See All...). That is God's promise to those who give to Him. How should we give to God? Here is God's plan for giving.

• Give Secretly

Matthew 6:1-4 [1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. [2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: [4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
See All... - Christ warned against the doing of "alms before men." Those who do their alms to be seen of men have already received their reward. The Bible teaches that giving is not a public activity. Only God knows how much of a sacrifice each gift really is. The widow's two mites (Luke 21:1-4 [1] And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. [2] And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. [3] And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: [4] For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
See All...) were more than the bags of gold given out of abundance. Be satisfied that God knows what you give and He will certainly reward you in like kind.

• Give Proportionally

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 [1] Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. [2] Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
See All... - Paul taught the Corinthians to give on the first day of the week "as God hath prospered him." That means that those who were prospered or blessed more should give more than those who had been prospered less. This sounds a lot like the concept of tithing (that is, the giving of ten percent). God expects us to give in proportion as He has given to us. The more He blesses us, the more we should give in return to Him. The giving of the tithe is not laid down in legal terms for us who are in the age of grace. We are to give because of love and not because of fear of breaking the law. However, this does not mean that we should give less because of love than because of law. Actually, it should probably be the other way around. But certainly, God expects proportional giving of His people.

• Give Sacrificially

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 [1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
See All... - The Macedonians did not just give what they reasonably could ("to their power"). Paul testified that "beyond their power they were willing of themselves." They gave much more than could be reasonably expected. This is sacrificial giving and this is where the blessings of God are most abundant to the giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
See All... teaches, "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." What kind of reaping are you receiving? What kind of sowing are you doing? They are one and the same.

• Give Willingly

2 Corinthians 8:11-12 [11] Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. [12] For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
See All... - In order to do God's will as to giving, we must first have a "readiness to will, so there may be a performance also...For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." If we give simply out of fear or duty, we lose much of our reward. The willing mind is what makes the gift acceptable to God.

• Give Exactly

2 Corinthians 9:7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
See All... - Every man is to give unto God "according as he purposeth in his own heart." No one has a right to send you a bill or take a gift out of your paycheck. You must decide what to give unto the Lord. But do not give blindly by simply pulling something out of your wallet every once in a while. Determine what God wants you to give and give it faithfully. This also gives God a chance to increase your faith from time to time.

• Give Cheerfully

2 Corinthians 9:7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
See All... - Do not give to God "grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." When we give to God, we are returning a portion of His blessing to us. This is a blessed act and should be done with joyfulness and good cheer.

• Give Expectingly

Luke 6:38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
See All... - "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Giving puts us under the watchful hand of God where He promises to take care of us. May we as Christians learn the holy habit of giving!