Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom..” (Luke 6:38). We know that we should give of our means to the Lord, but in an economy that seems to demand more and more of us by the month, generosity may seem untenable and maybe even burdensome.
Paul addressed giving in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. Note 6 principles from those contexts to help us as we give.
– Give Regularly (1 Cor. 16:2). Paul said, “On the first day of the week” (NKJV) but a more literal translation would be “on the first day of every week…” (ESV). Thus, we should give to the Lord weekly as an act of our worship.
– Give Purposefully (2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). To “lay something aside” is to store up or deposit money and to do so “purposefully” is “to decide beforehand.” In other words, Christians are to set aside a predetermined portion of their income to be given to the Lord. Forethought and planning, not grabbing whatever cash happens to be on hand when the plate passes by!
– Give Proportionately (1 Cor. 16:2). Paul commanded us to give “as we prosper.” God does not stipulate a specific amount or percentage. He asks for a freewill offering given in proportion to our income, which is different for everyone.
– Give Liberally (2 Cor. 8:2-3; 9:6). Though struggling with poverty, the Macedonian Christians gave liberally and abundantly. They recognized the principle of sowing and reaping! God has given to us in abundance, why should we be close-fisted in our giving to Him?
– Give Urgently (2 Cor. 8:4). Though in need themselves, the Macedonians saints recognized the need and “implor(ed) us with much urgency.” The idea is that they “urgently pleaded” with Paul for an opportunity to contribute to the collection he was securing. We should follow their example and seek to “meet the need” with the same level of desire and urgency.
– Give Cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7). Our giving should not be reluctant nor should it be out of compulsion. Instead, it should be characterized by a joyful, generous, and cheerful attitude.
– Give Thankfully (2 Cor. 8:9; 9:15). The ultimate motivation for our generosity is the generosity of our God and our Savior. Every penny we give should spring from a heart overflowing with gratitude for what we have received.