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Giving Is an Expression of Gratitude

There are only three things we can do with money: We can give it away, we can save it, or we can spend it. All three are valid ways of using money. In this chapter, we will look at giving it away. Obviously, we cannot and should not give all our money away. Some must be used to meet the physical needs of our families. But if we give none of it away, we are failing to be grateful for what God has given us.

It is interesting that when God laid down concepts by which ancient Israel was to live, he included the area of giving:

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. . . . The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD. . . . These are the commands the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.34

God did not simply refer to “giving” as a vague concept. No, he specified that his people were to give a tenth of their income. The word holy means “separated.” They were to separate one tenth of their possessions and designate them specifically for the work of God. This gift was to be channeled through the Levites, the spiritual leaders of Israel, and used to meet their needs as well as the needs of the poor. In addition to the tithe, Israel was also encouraged to give offerings.

Years later, we discover that God has not changed his mind about this pattern of giving. In the last book of the Old Testament, we read,

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.35

In this passage, the blessing of God is tied to the faithfulness of Israel in giving a tenth of their income back to God. And the curse of God, the removal of God’s blessing, is tied to their failure to give.

Are We Required to Give?

In the New Testament, Jesus endorsed the idea of giving a tenth of one’s income, while at the same time pointing out to the religious leaders of his day that such giving is to be accompanied by godly living. Jesus said,

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.36

Jesus emphasized that giving 10 percent of one’s income is to be done not as a religious duty but as an expression of gratitude from one’s heart; and along with the gift one should exhibit a concern for justice, mercy, and faithfulness to God.

While the New Testament does not require Christians to give 10 percent of their income, it does stress the concept of giving back to God out of what he has given us. Jesus clearly taught that the blessing of God upon our lives is tied to our spirit of gratitude, expressed in giving. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”37 When we express our gratitude to God by giving back to him out of what he has given to us, Jesus promises that God will give us more. One cannot outgive God.

The apostle Paul reiterates this concept when he says,

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.38

Paul clearly states that we are to give out of a heart of gratitude, not out of a sense of compulsion. He also affirms that, in giving, we do not diminish our resources because God will abundantly supply all that we need.

An ancient Hebrew proverb says, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”39 The New Testament affirms this concept. Paul said to the Christians living in Philippi who had sent him money for his ministry, “The gifts you sent . . . are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”40

Clearly our giving is important to God. I think that’s because it is a true reflection of our gratitude to God and our love for people. The question is not whether we will give. The questions are how much shall we give and to whom shall we give it?

How Much Shall We Give?

I have always felt strongly that if God required 10 percent of ancient Israel, then those of us who have experienced his forgiveness and the gift of eternal life through Christ our Lord should give even more than that. I believe that 10 percent of one’s income is a good starting point and that this should be given off the top of our regular income. Then as we become aware of special opportunities and needs, we may give additional gifts. In the Old Testament, God expected Israel to give 10 percent and even indicated that it already belonged to him. Why should we think that he would expect less of us?

My challenge to Christian couples has always been to give 10 percent of their income to God and adjust their budget to live on the remaining 90 percent. It may require lowering your standard of living, but in the long run, it will raise the quality of your life. Obviously this means that not every couple give the same amount. We give in proportion to what we receive. If we earn $200 a week, then we give $20. If we earn $500, we give $50. If we earn $5,000, we give $500. Whatever our level of income, such giving is a realistic way to start.

R. G. LeTourneau, whom I mentioned in the last chapter, was so greatly blessed by God that in the latter years of his life he gave 90 percent of his income to God and lived on the remaining 10 percent. He once said, “The question is not how much of my money I give to God, but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”41 He had learned the joy of giving.

To Whom Should We Give?

In Old Testament days, giving was fairly simple. The gifts were to be brought to the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple) where they would be administered by the Levites and priests.

As Christians, we can follow this precedent by giving our tithes to our church. My personal pattern has always been to give 10 percent to the church I attend and to give additional offerings to other organizations as I am able and feel prompted by God.

Many Christian organizations have been created, some by the church and others by individuals and groups of Christians, to meet a particular need or to explore a particular possibility for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. All these kinds of organizations are worthy of support. The churches with whom I have been associated through the years also give some of the funds they receive to other Christian organizations.

It has always been important for me to remember that I do not give to the church, but rather I give to God through the church. I do not give to Christian organizations, but rather I give to God through Christian organizations.

There is also a time to give to individuals who are in need. The apostle John speaks of that when he says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”42 Obviously, one should be conscientious about establishing need and not be taken in by scams. It’s also important to determine how best to help an individual in need. Often, it’s best not to give cash but to provide food or to pay a utility bill. This is especially true if the person who is in need is addicted to alcohol or drugs. Cash gifts to such a person simply help perpetuate a problem.

Christians who recognize that everything we have is a gift from God express this reality by giving out of what we have received. Such giving is an expression of gratitude. The amount we give and the channels through which we direct our giving will vary, but the attitude is always the same: “Thank you, Father, for your goodness to us.”

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Putting the Principles into Practice

1. On a scale of 1–10, how grateful are you for what God has given you? Does the level of your giving reflect the level of your gratitude?

2. Are you satisfied with your present pattern of giving? If not, what would you like to see changed?

3. Discuss with your spouse the changes the two of you would like to make in your pattern of giving. (Perhaps your spouse would be willing to read this chapter before you talk about it together.)