4. The Gift of Giving
The New Testament lists many spiritual gifts that God gives to his people – gifts ranging from the ability to teach or heal, to the gifts of serving or encouraging. All these gifts fulfill needs and all are important, but not all gifts are created equal! Some spiritual gifts are specific and given at certain times for particular circumstances. But other gifts that God gives are general or ongoing in the sense that they are given and used continually rather than in any particular situation. How does this apply to giving? We may not think of giving as being something we receive, rather that it is only something we ourselves do in an outgoing way. But in his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul tells us that the gift of giving is something that we receive: "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is … giving, then give generously (Romans 12:6–8)."
Unfortunately, we often do not place the same importance on Paul's words regarding giving as we do on the seemingly greater gifts he also mentions such as prophecy or teaching. In fact, we may think of the spiritual gifts he mentions as being listed in descending order of importance, yet that is not what he intended at all. Paul clearly tells us elsewhere in his writing that there are many spiritual gifts of different types, but all are important – all are necessary for the functioning of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7–27).
The important thing for us to realize is that although giving can be a gift that is sometimes bestowed by God to a greater degree on some individuals, giving is a spiritual gift we can and should all ask for because it is a Christian responsibility, just like the service and encouragement Paul also mentions.
But God often does not impart the gift of giving by simply enriching us with more physical things that we can share (though he may do that, of course). Perhaps more often, God gives us qualities such as an increased desire to give and an ability to see needs that we can fulfill. These are the things for which we can and should pray in order to increase our gift of giving – with no fear that we are simply asking for more for ourselves. Often, those who pray for a more giving attitude receive both that change of heart and the means to give more, also. But that, of course, is in God's hands as to how he chooses to fulfill our prayers – yet the request for a giving spirit is one that God does always seem to grant!
How do we know when we receive this gift of giving? It is usually not that we suddenly desire to give away all or most of what we have. Instead, we find subtle but noticeable changes that take place in our lives. The gift of giving:
1. Usually is accompanied by an affection for and a deep desire to help those to whom we give. Paul talks about this in his letter to the Thessalonians: "We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:8 CSB). 2. Frequently carries with it an increased ability to see and recognize the material and spiritual needs of others. As Paul wrote to Timothy: "Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4 CSB). The gift of giving helps us to do that more effectively. 3. Often prompts us to give more – quantitatively and qualitatively – than we might otherwise have done. We begin to give more generously without holding back the best. The principle is clear in the Old Testament command: "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops" (Proverbs 3:9). 4. Helps us maintain balance in our generosity. We become desirous to give but do not over-give or feel badly when we cannot give more. "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12). 5. Prompts us to give more effectively. Inspired giving looks carefully at exactly what is needed – as we see in the well-known words of Jesus: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" (Matthew 25:35–36). 6. Helps us to see more ways that we can give. Giving is not just about money, of course, and the gift of giving helps us to see ways we can help others even if we cannot help them monetarily or in other physical ways. That is what Paul meant when he wrote that: "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way" (2 Corinthians 9:11 ESV). 7. Brings happiness. Giving not only makes the receiver happy – it also brings a sense of deep happiness to the giver. When Paul wrote that "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7), the word "cheerful" that he used was the Greek word hilarós—the origin of the English word "hilarious." This word means cheerful, joyous, and happy, and the principle works both ways: the happier we are to give, the happier we often become as a result of giving. All these aspects of the gift of giving are simply manifestations of the Spirit of God working within us – and that is how we receive the gift of giving, of course: through the Spirit placed within us. But even when our desire to give increases, we must still learn to give wisely, as we will see in the following chapters.
PART TWO:
HOW NOT TO GIVE