Why Giving?

In Matthew 25:14-30 NIV we see a side of Jesus that many prefer to overlook. He tells a story about servants (managers) entrusted with their master’s wealth while he was away on a journey, and the lessons are clear. He has left us in charge here on earth with things especially money. Anyone in the Lord’s service can distinguish themselves by being wise, diligent, faithful, and resourceful with it. Those who don’t believe there is a tangible, present payoff for their effort – even those who claim Jesus as their master — will hoard what they have and waste all opportunities to increase. They will be thrown into darkness, with what little they have being taken from them.

Jesus clearly demonstrated that giving is the inseverable nature of God. It is therefore impossible to reflect God without giving. Not giving out of some kind of social pressure or coercion, but giving in faith that our Father approves of the gift, like a manager who knows the owner’s will in the matter. Most Christians know this instinctively. What most don’t seem to understand is that one can expect a tangible, material return on their giving, here and now in this life. The Bible has quite a lot to say about this. In fact, it says that to teach that godly giving has no tangible profit this side of heaven is evil. That kind of teaching produces students who act just like the lazy one in the story!

Let go of your stuff and put it in God’s hands. Learn and practice how He says to handle money and things. You will find that His nature is to multiply the money and things in your life, not to subtract or divide them! (See also Why Tithe?)
(Isaiah 45:19, Malachi 3:14, Luke 6:38, Matthew 19:29, Acts 4:34, Proverbs 11:24, 1 Timothy 6:17, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV, Job 34:7-9 NIV)