Gift of giving

In Romans 12:8 we read of the one who contributes with generosity. Do you remember the early chapters of Acts? In the Jerusalem church, those who had, gave to those who had not. There was a sharing. The needy were helped. Then later on, the Gentile churches gave to the widows and the orphans in Jerusalem. There is something very, very touching to me about that. In Paul’s passion, everywhere he went he was collecting money for the widows and orphans in the Jerusalem church. It was one of his great passions. Why do you think that was? Because he had made some of them widows and orphans in his days as Saul of Tarsus when he persecuted the church. He said, I pursued them even to the death. In all his life as a Christian, he had to live with the aftereffects of what he had done in his sin, even though his sin was forgiven, fully forgiven. I think he knew the names of those widows, and I think he knew the names of those orphans. And I think he said to himself, It is down to me. I did it, and by God’s help, I have to fix it.

Again and again we find this giving commanded widely in both the Old and New Testament. Some of you readers are comparatively wealthy. God has put you in good financial circumstances. You have a comfortable income. If you are one of those people, surely it is almost certain that you have got the gift of giving. God has given the wherewithal, and surely this should be one of your first areas of attention. If God has blessed me with an abundance of the good things of this life, what is my responsibility?

A lot more of you are by no means wealthy and could not be described as wealthy, but you have a sufficient income; you are not wondering where your next meal comes from. If you have an income and do not have to stress about providing for your family, you are wealthy compared to a lot of people living in famine or without a monthly income.

There is a story about a Christian from India who was visiting Christians in Canada, I think it was Toronto. After church, they drove home to their particular home where he was going to stay, they got out of the car, and his host drove the car into the garage. Then the Indian said, A house for a car. Well‑well, a house for a car. So, even those of us who have to scrabble around sometimes and wonder how we are going to pay this bill and meet this obligation, comparatively speaking, we can give.

Then there are some in the church who are not wealthy, and there are some in the church who are not even comfortably off. For you, at times, I know, it is difficult to make ends meet. I say to you that you are the real heroes. You are the real heroes of giving! Remember the widow’s mite and her two tiny little coins. The Lord noticed it and commended her. He said, She has given more than them all. Who gives most in this church? Nobody knows. For one thing is sure, it is not to be estimated in pounds and pence. It is the cost to the giver; it is not the amount.

Let me give you five adverbs. A person with this gift will view their finances to be used wisely—not being foolish in your giving, not being naive, not responding to every appeal, but using it wisely. Cheerfully—not grudgingly or reluctantly, but gladly. Generously—giving a little bit more than you think you can afford. Systematically—not doing it in fits and starts, but regularly on a plan and privately. Let not your left hand know what the right hand is doing. That is why a lot of churches’ finances are organised as they are. Who knows what you give to the church? Only a few men—and for sure, they are not telling. It means that we can give with a joy of giving to the Lord, with no desire for praise or commendation. How much good has been done through this gift? How much has been received in return?

The Lord promises blessings to those who give. Luke 6:38 says, Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will measured back to you.¹

Edward Donnelly