Many who revere the Bible are sometimes quite rigid with their second most important book…the bank book. Nothing is so practical a test of our love for Christ and His work as our attitude to money and personal possessions.
What a glimpse we have of the inner work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Hudson Taylor, as he periodically went through his belongings in the light of the Lord’s return, to dispose of all that might be considered “excessive.”
The acid test of a person’s spirituality and thankfulness for his salvation is to be found in the amount he will sacrifice to bring the message to others. It is not the amount you give, but the amount you keep which is the true measure of your love. The New Testament pattern is: give proportionately and sacrificially as the Lord has prospered you.
A friend made a caustic but pertinent remark on what he considered the miserly giving of some believers: “They are saving hard to leave their money to the Anti-christ.” If we believe that the Lord’s return is imminent, there is some point in his words. If we are stewards and not owners of the material things entrusted to us, we cannot use our income simply as we please. When the Lord comes, we shall have to give an account of our stewardship. There are lessons we may learn about giving in the history of the Tabernacle.
Proportionately: The request of Moses met with a hearty response on the part of the people (Ex. 35:4-29). It was according to what a man had, for all had something. There were goldsmiths, silversmiths, ironmongers, dealers in precious stones, stone-cutters, carpenters, apothecaries, and numerous women skilled in weaving and spinning. Think of the difficulty of taking rough goat’s hair and making it into a pattern of beauty. It was not only its value but making use of what they had. All sought to contribute and to do something for the construction of God’s dwelling.
How few children of God today even carry out tithing; yet it is scriptural and beneficial, sacrificial and commendable. At least it is a place to begin in our giving. It is a means under God of proving that the Lord is no man’s debtor (Mal. 3:10).
Many maintain that tithing belongs to the Old Testament and has no relevance to Christians. But the Christian belongs to his Master: he is His doulos (bond-slave) and owes everything he has and is to his Lord. If the precepts of the Old Testament have been superseded by the exhortations of the New Testament, in any case, a specific proportion of our income should be set aside first for Him.
It is both interesting and profitable to study those who have proved God and found His promise true. Since the days when Jacob made his pledge to give back to God a tenth of all that God gave to him, many of the great men of the earth have been faithful tithing stewards.
The work of Christ is greatly hindered by the lost art of giving in the Name of the Lord. No one can honestly say before God, “There is nothing I can do.” How evident is this in the life of that consecrated woman who rendered such loyal loving service to the person of Christ: “She hath done what she could” (Mk. 14:8). Stewardship implies not only money, but our time, our talents, our prospects, our opportunities–all that we have–being brought under the supervision and control of our Lord.
Only as we are taught of God shall we view money in its proper light as a testimony and trust in the furtherance of the gospel. It is not primarily a means of gain, but rather a means of grace for the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth. Giving is something that cannot be fulfilled casually or carelessly, but in obedience to the constraining love of Christ.
How we give is the measure of our faith, our love, and our life. What counts is the testimony of our money today, not wills, or waiting till we see Him face to face. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2).
Prayerfully: Giving that is earmarked at the throne of God is the greatest dividend payable on earth and in heaven. What an encouragement to know of spiritual exercise that results in systematic giving in relation to workers abroad, and to servants and shepherds of the local church. The reason why much giving is on a low level is because we fail to realize our giving is not to some church or Christian primarily, but to God and His gospel.
The gifts that were presented to Moses were in reality brought to God with prayer. The word “stirred” means “lifted up” and is indicative of the soul that is turned toward God in prayer and praise. It is in the sanctuary we learn to do business with God and advance the cause of Christ. How vastly different the attitude of the heart when bowed in the presence of God instead of feeling pride because of generosity for some worthy cause or enterprise.
To possess money, whether little or much, renders the Christian debtor to support those who have been called by God to lay aside the work which normally brought their own support. It will lead us to the proper evaluation of works and workers, of whatever is done for the poor (Ps. 68:5, 10, 18; Jas. 1:27); of ministers of the Word (1 Tim. 5:17-18); of hospitality (Mt. 25:35; 1 Pet. 4:9); and of the care of the church.
When the Spirit of God brings someone to mind and you are moved to supplicate or give as the Lord enables, that gift proves to be as “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18).
David Livingstone once said, after spending some time with the Lord in prayer, “I will put no value on anything I possess save in relation to the kingdom of God.”
God’s wonderful love to us is demonstrated in the gift of His only Son. He had only one Son, and He gave Him for us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave…” The Lord Jesus Christ who was rich became poor so that we through His poverty could be made rich. Then He gave Himself for our sins on the cross. He gave His all. What have I given to Him in return to His love to me?
Plentifully: How much should we give? The word “willing” is found several times (Ex. 35:5, 21, 22, 29), “voluntarily, literally, and abundantly.” To follow the teaching of Scripture is to depend on the Spirit of God to direct our gifts. Whenever this method is employed there will never be any lack in liberality. Where the human element of pressure is used, it produces little more than disgust and weariness of soul; it is not far from the carnal way of raising funds. To God the dependent method comes as the result of the Holy Spirit and what a thrill to know the gift is the will of God! How we ought to prefer and preserve the ecstatic joy in the biblical, God-honoring, self-respecting method of giving.
I have observed in many a business or private home in Israel, a small box containing money to be used as occasion arose for urgent matter of the poor and the extras relative to the synagogue. What a blessed thing it would be if Christians had always something on hand for the furtherance of the cause of Christ, for any sudden need arising among His people because of illness, travel, or fatality; or the coming into their midst of a man of God, or a missionary of the cross. There is joy in being so in touch with God that one can render spiritual service in the name of the Lord, seeking no reward.
There are four rules worth remembering: if you want to be wealthy: give! If you want to be poor: grasp! If you want abundance: scatter! If you want to be needy: hoard! Is there any compensation to the liberal soul? “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). It is a pledge that grows with the passing years that God is faithful and will meet us in our daily needs (Heb. 6:10). It brings satisfaction, knowing that treasure is being laid up in heaven, and that our own spiritual life is being enriched and expanded because we are in partnership with the Lord of the harvest (2 Cor. 9:1-14). Reading about the cheerfulness and bountiful giving of the children of Israel, it is no wonder that “the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” At times we have observed this “too much” at a social or a picnic, but what a testimony to God and His goodness to witness it in such stewardship.
Paul worked night and day to make himself chargeable to no man (1 Thess. 2:9); the work of his hands provided for his own necessities and for those that labored with him (Acts 20:34). By his own example he showed the importance and joy of giving. He followed the example of the Lord, who impoverished Himself to make us rich.
How should we give? The Word of God sets forth these principles: we should give devotedly (Godward), systematically (manward), willingly (with cheerfulness), liberally (whole-heartedly), proportionately (according to ability), faithfully (not for show), honestly (with sincerity and integrity). Giving of ourselves and of our means will bring us rich joy and blessing now, and in the coming day of evaluation, our faithful stewardship down here will be rewarded by the Master’s, “Well done.”