Giving I. Introduction A. Acts 20:35 1. As he speaks to the elders of Ephesus, Paul relates a saying of Jesus not found in the Gospels but consistent with His ethic 2. It is better to give than to receive B. Giving ought to mark the life of a Christian C. Why is giving supposed to be such a major part of Christianity? How shall we give so as to glorify God in Christ? II. Why Should Christians Give? A. What makes giving so important? B. Christians have been commanded to give 1. Acts 20:35 2. Matthew 10:8 3. Matthew 10:42 4. Ephesians 4:28 C. Christians are to give because God has given to us in Jesus 1. Matthew 20:25-28: Jesus as the model for Christians (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1) 2. 2 Corinthians 9:9-12: God gives abundantly to us, thus we are to give 3. 1 John 3:16-18: seeing God’s love given to us, we are to give what we have to others 4. In this way we are to be like God in Christ (Matthew 5:48) D. Matthew 13:12 1. A consistent theme of Jesus; cf. Matthew 25:29 2. But what does it have to do with giving? We can see from 2 Corinthians 9:6, 9-12 3. If we hold on and do not give, we will lose even what we have 4. If we trust all is from God and give according to His purposes, He will bless E. Assisting People: Showing Christ’s love 1. Matthew 5:13-16 2. By helping others, we help show our light so that people may glorify God a. We comfort and encourage the saints b. To those of the world, it gives an opportunity to speak of spiritual things 3. Consider John 6:1-71: Jesus provides physical support and proceeds to provide spiritual sustenance F. Seeing, then, the need for giving, to whom shall we give? III. To Whom Should Christians Give? A. Matthew 5:42: anyone who asks of us 1. In short, everyone at every opportunity (Galatians 6:10) 2. ...especially to the household of faith 3. We are to do this “at every opportunity” 4. Such does not mean that we must have some kind of arbitrary standard of worthiness; we are to be giving to one another regardless of status, and be careful lest we do not show mercy on those whom God would have us show mercy (Luke 6:30-36) B. Examples of Christians giving 1. Jesus: constantly assisting those of Israel 2. Acts 2:41-48, 4:32-37: the first Christians selling all they had so that no one among them had a need 3. Acts 11:28-30: church in Antioch sent relief to church in Jerusalem 4. 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:13: the brethren of Macedonia and Achaia giving to the saints in need in Jerusalem 5. Philippians 4:15-19: the brethren in Philippi gave to Paul in his need C. The examples of giving are mostly individuals assisting individuals, or churches helping churches 1. We see no example of individuals giving to organizations 2. Is it sinful to give to organizations? No. 3. It is most profitable, however, to give as an individual on an individual basis, since that best allows one to show Christ’s light and to present spiritual benefits to those in need 4. Giving is not just about whatever is transacted but the relationship within which things may be given! D. Giving to the local congregation must be a part of our giving, but not its totality 1. 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:13, 1 Timothy 5:1-16 speak of Christians giving to local congregations, maintaining some kind of ongoing fund to provide for those of their own in need, and the need for Christians to give in those contexts 2. Yet even in 1 Timothy 5:1-16 it is clear that individual Christians are to provide for their own widows so the church can help “widows indeed”; nothing in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:13, or any other passages obviate Matthew 5:42, Galatians 6:10, etc., in which Christians are to give to others as they have opportunity 3. Yes, Galatians 6:10 speaks of our need to prioritize the household of faith; that may include what we give to the local congregation, but it also includes what we do for one another as individuals 4. We do great violence to the Scriptures if we read, preach, and teach about giving and make it only and exclusively about the collection of the saints on the first day of the week; God in Christ expects much more of us, to give not only for the needs of the collective, but also to one another and to those in the world E. Since we see now to whom we ought to give, it is good to ask: what shall we give? IV. What Shall Christians Give? A. Physical support 1. We have seen in previous examples that Christians gave money and food and other forms of physical support to one another 2. Galatians 2:10: we ought to be eager to “remember the poor” 3. When people come to us with needs, we must do everything we can to help them 4. While the church is able to support those within its fold, individual responsibility is not abrogated (cf. 1 Timothy 5:16)! B. Time, Presence, and Abilities 1. Giving, however, is not necessarily limited to money or other “things” 2. We can also give our time a. For many people, giving of time is more valuable than giving of resources, since by giving of our time we show more concern for the person b. Some of us may have more money than others, but we all have the same amount of time c. Association with people can be very edifying for them...and you! d. We can do many things with our time, talk with people, study with people, etc., but sometimes, just being there is enough e. Sometimes people don’t need physical help; they just want someone to be with them f. Even though you may feel as if you have done nothing, you may have actually helped a great deal 3. We can use our abilities to help one another a. Romans 12:6-8: we all have different abilities, and we should use them for the glory of God b. A directive of 1 Peter 4:10-11 c. We can do that easily through using them to help one another and also those outside d. If you can teach, or work with your hands, or listen, whatever, you can use these talents to help others! C. We have seen some of the things which we as Christians can give to others D. How shall we give? V. How Shall Christians Give? A. Christians ought to give cheerfully and liberally 1. 2 Corinthians 9:7 2. God loves the cheerful giver, both financially and of other means B. Christians ought to give without fanfare 1. Matthew 6:1-4 2. Our giving is not to be done to look good to others! 3. We must not flaunt our giving, but simply do it, regardless of whether men will reward us 4. Our reward will be with God C. Christians do well to re-orient their lives around giving, to become a giving people 1. Ephesians 4:28 2. The thief, having deprived others for his own gain, now ought to work to have leftovers to give to those in need 3. Perhaps a bit of penance, indeed, and yet consistent with God’s whole ethos (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11) 4. We live in a materialistic, consumerist world; we are to take all we are given and spend and use, or so we are told 5. But God gives abundantly beyond our need not so we can build bigger barns, but to have something to give to those in need 6. Such requires true repentance, a complete reorientation of mind: how can I give to others what God has given me? How can I become a blessing on account of the blessings given to me? VI. Conclusion A. Christians are to be giving people 1. We give because we have been commanded and we follow the example of our Lord 2. By helping others, we can comfort them in the faith or show them the love of Christ through us 3. We give to all men, especially those of the household of faith, and we can give of anything we have: money, time, abilities, etc. 4. We are to give liberally, cheerfully, and without fanfare; we ought to develop the mindset of giving, as seeing all we have as ways to benefit others B. Matthew 25:31-46 1. In describing the final Judgment scene, Jesus speaks of whether people assisted those in need or not as the yardstick of their judgment 2. If Jesus uses how well we give as a standard of judgment, shouldn’t we give great consideration as to how we are helping others? 3. Will we be found to have fed, clothed, visited, and ministered to those in need, or not? What will we hear from Jesus on that day? C. May we dedicate our lives to giving to the needs of others, and obtain the resurrection of life in Christ! D. Invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Paul preserves an important saying of Jesus, one quite consistent with His character. It is a great blessing to give. Christians ought to be giving people, finding opportunities to bless others as they have been blessed. May we give as God has given to us! 2: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). The Christian’s life of giving and serving is rooted in the example of his or her Lord and Savior. Jesus came not to be served but to serve; He gave freely. Christians are to follow their Lord; therefore, they must be a giving and serving people. May we seek to live according to Jesus’ example! 3: “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:42). Christians are to give to those who are in need of it. Christians must lay aside to give according to the needs of the local congregation, but that is only part of what they ought to give. Christians must give as individuals to other Christians in need; Christians are to do good to all people as well. Our task is not done when we have given on the first day of the week. May we give generously as God has blessed us in Christ! 4: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need (Ephesians 4:28). What proves true of the penitent thief should mark the lives of all Christians. In our professions God has given us more than what we need to survive. Shall we look upon what He has given us as reason to obtain more or as an opportunity to bless others as He has blessed us? May we prove a blessing upon others, and give generously of our resources, time, presence, and abilities to others, as God has blessed us!