Giving

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not that I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4 vv 10 -19

Giving is a delicate subject. Naturally speaking, it is one about which people do not like to hear too many messages. That was also the case in the days when Paul was writing: he said quite clearly, "When I departed from Macedonia, no church was concerned with giving but you only." Only one church was involved in giving.

GIVE ME YOUR HEART

The plea here, concerning giving, is, in the first place, "Give me your heart!" If we are talking about giving, that is what God requires. Give me your heart! Giving, by itself, is nothing. The unsaved give. The unsaved may give to a good measure - far more than we do. In fact Paul said, in that well-known chapter, I Corinthians 13 (v3): "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor... it profiteth me nothing." Without that Divine love in our hearts, unless we have given God our heart, unless we have allowed Him to do the work in our heart and life, unless we are motivated by His love working in us, we can give everything we have got and it is of no benefit to us at all. This is an important start. Our hearts must be right with God and we must be moving in love.

There is a lot written about giving. There is a lot said about it in Christian circles and especially in evangelical circles. Yet, in some way, I get the idea that any message on giving is not gladly received. Let us, therefore, look at what the Scriptures teach about giving.