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What Kind Of “Givers” Are We?

A querist asks, “In Leviticus 27:30-33, we notice that one tenth of the Hebrew’s annual harvest was to be devoted to the service of God as a “tithe” offering for the support of the Levites and priests in their religious duties (Numbers 18:24; Numbers 18:28). The Israelites of Malachi’s day were violating this law. As a result, God, through Malachi asks, “Will a man rob God?” (Malachi 3:8). The people answered, “Wherein have we robbed thee?” God answers, “In tithes and offerings.” As a result of their attitude toward giving, God pronounces a “curse” upon them (Malachi 3:9) and calls upon the people to repent and give into His storehouse (Malachi 3:10). With these thoughts in mind, is it possible that some Christians still “rob God” today by not giving as generously as they are able to give into the treasury of the church?”

Let us note in the querist’s question, the phrase, “as they are able to give.” In Acts 11:26-30, we find Barnabas and Saul assembling with the church at Antioch. Through Agabus, the Holy Spirit revealed that there was to be a great famine in the land. As a result, the disciples made the decision to send “relief” to the brethren in Judea (Acts 11:29). Note the phrase, “every man according to his ability.” Now compare that phrase with the phrase we find in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give….”. What do we learn from these two readings?

1) God does not expect any Christian to give beyond their ability to give.

2) God does expect every Christian to give as they have “planned” or “purposed” to give “in his heart.”

The motive of the heart is what God looks at in our giving (or anything else that we do – 1 Samuel 16:7). A good comparison would be that of the “poor widow” in Mark 12:42-44 versus Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. The widow’s motive for giving was pure and honorable, while Ananias and Sapphira’s motive for giving was not.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, we have an example of the characteristics of true giving from the Macedonian churches:

1) They were “joyful” givers (2 Corinthians 8:2).
2) They were “liberal” givers (2 Corinthians 8:2).
3) They were “willing” givers (2 Corinthians 8:3).
4) They were “prayerful” givers (2 Corinthians 8:4).
5) They were “selfless” givers (2 Corinthians 8:5).
6) They were “consecrated” givers (2 Corinthians 8:5).

To “give themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5), was to consecrate all they had to His service (whether money, talents, time, energy, etc.). Since God already “owns” everything (Deuteronomy 10:14; Job 41:11; Psalm 24:1; Psalm 50:11-12; Haggai 2:8; 1 Corinthians 10:26), the most valuable thing we can give back to Him is “ourselves” (cf. Matthew 16:24-26; Matthew 19:21; Luke 18:22) in the form of service to Him (Joshua 24:15; Joshua 24:31; Judges 2:7). Brethren, when we first give “ourselves” to the Lord, all other things pertaining to our “giving” will follow suit.