ACT OF GIVING 11 Chapter Ten: The Rules For Giving

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Give with love.

Let your giving be motivated by love. How much you love someone will determine how much you can give to that person. Giving is the expression of your love for G.o.d and His people. To prove that you love G.o.d you must give to Him. Any giving done without love is a waste. Apostle Paul said,

"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." - I Cor.13:3

Give your best to G.o.d.

Never give G.o.d what does not cost you anything. The best of your harvest should be given to G.o.d. You don't give G.o.d leftovers or remnants – things which you yourself will not appreciate or value if someone else gives them to you. How much you love and reverence G.o.d will determine how best you can give to Him. Abel gave G.o.d his best offering and it was accepted.

"And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offerings." - Gen 4:4

Give as G.o.d blesses you.

Always give as G.o.d blesses you, because G.o.d will continue to bless you more in order to be able to give more. You will become unfaithful if G.o.d bless you so much and you are giving Him very little from what He gave to you. Solomon gave G.o.d his best as G.o.d blesses him.

"Solomon offered as peace offerings to the Lord twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep." - I Kings 8:63

Avoid ostentation; that is show off.

Unquestionably we are to do good, but good that is done ostentatiously destroys itself in the doing. Kind acts are fragile and must be handled carefully if they are not to become unkind and actually harm the one for whom they are rendered to. You have to learn how to give without being proud or arrogant.

Give cheerfully.

Let every of your giving be done cheerfully. You have to give with joy in your heart because G.o.d loves a cheerful giver.

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudging or of necessity; for G.o.d loves a cheerful giver." - II Cor.9:7

Give willingly.

Giving should be done willingly. Any giving done not willingly will not be accepted and rewarded by G.o.d. Giving is not by force but by choice.

"For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." - II Cor.8:12

Give regularly.

Giving should be done regularly, it is not what you do on a seasonal basis or at any time you want. It should be part of you and should be cultivated as your habit.

"Do not withhold good from those to who it is due when it is your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" – when you have it with you." - Prov.3:27–28

Give with no intention of getting something in return.

See every of your giving as to the Lord and not to men and believe he will reward you for all your good deeds.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." - Col.3:23

Give to everyone who asks from you.

You are to give to everyone who asks from you. Do not be bias in your favour to people. Treat every man equally and not giving special privilege to any man.

"Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again." - Luke 6:30

Give secretly.

Let your giving be done secretly. If you want your giving to be acceptable before G.o.d you have to be careful not to expose them or announce them and be careful not to boast about them.

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified from men. a.s.suredly, I say to you, they have their reward." - Matt.6:1–2

Give bountifully.

You have to be willing to give more than expected and plentifully especially when giving to G.o.d. How much you give will determine how much of G.o.d blessing you will receive.

"The point is this: he who sow sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." - II Cor.9:6

Give sacrificially.

Learn to give sacrificially because sacrificial giving is an accelerator of G.o.d's blessing. Apostle Paul lived a sacrificial life and sacrificed for the sake of the gospel. He said,

"I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel."

Phil.1:2

Give unselfishly.

Your motives and intent for giving should be checked and should not be for selfish reasons. We have heard of how some people use their generous donation as a kind of gentle blackmail to enable them to retain control of the person they gave to. Everyone should learn how to give without pride or arrogance.

"Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility counts others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others."

Phil.2:3–4

Do not give reluctantly.

Reluctant giving is as not wanting or willing to give and such cannot be accepted and rewarded by G.o.d. It is a waste when you give reluctantly. It is better not to give at all than to give reluctantly.

"Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for G.o.d loves a cheerful giver."

II Cor.9:7

Do not give because it is mandatory.

If you give because it is mandatory, your giving is not right. You should not give out of obligation or compulsion. Every giving should originate from a willing heart.

"Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for G.o.d loves a cheerful giver."

II Cor.9:7

Do not give to impress men.

Every of your giving should glorify G.o.d and not men. Your priority is not to impress men but G.o.d.

Let G.o.d be pleased with your giving. Let men see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matt.5:16)

Do not give to receive recognition from men.

When you give, do not seek recognition from men but seek recognition from G.o.d. It is vanity if men recognize your giving and G.o.d does not recognize it. If your giving is rightly done and for the right motive it may not be recognized by men but will surely be recognized by G.o.d because G.o.d knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of G.o.d. (Luke 16:14–15)

Do not give to receive praises or honor.

Avoid being praised or honored for your benevolent act. Ascribe the praises and honor to G.o.d and let G.o.d be glorified in all your giving. Any praise or honor received for your generous act will not be rewarded by G.o.d because you have already gotten your reward which is men's honor and praises. (Matt.6:2)