In other articles in this issue, the motives and character of giving are discussed. However, there are often questions about the practical side of giving. How much should we give? How do we have funds available to give, and how do we decide to whom to give? I believe that the Word of God addresses these questions for us.
Good Stewards
First of all, we must understand that everything we have to use for the Lord down here is entrusted to us as stewards. The Lord Jesus could say, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:1111If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Luke 16:11)). What we have down here the Lord called “that which is another man’s,” while He referred to spiritual blessings as “that which is your own” (Luke 16:1212And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:12)). We are not to dispose of anything down here as if it were our own, but rather we are to seek grace to be good stewards of it. In the same way Peter could tell his listeners to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). We will not be given spiritual riches if we are not faithful in the stewardship of natural things.
Also, it is not only money that is in question; we are to be good stewards of whatever is committed to us, whether time, energy, spiritual knowledge, or a particular gift, as well as material resources which may be represented by money. If the love of God is really enjoyed in our hearts, then that love will constrain us to want to give our energy, time and abilities to the Lord, as well as our money. Sometimes time is very valuable, when it is spent with someone who needs a visit, and sometimes practical help in some particular way is much more acceptable than money. Let us always be ready to use whatever we have for the Lord.
How Much to Give
Many believers have raised the question about how much to give. Our natural hearts tend to like a simple rule, but this is not the character of Christianity. Under the law, giving a tenth was required, as well as the additional tithe rendered every third year. Many believers have adopted this rule, but we do not find it anywhere in the New Testament. Rather, it is stated, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give” (2 Cor. 9:7). If our hearts are right before God, giving will never be “grudgingly, or of necessity,” but will be done cheerfully, as unto the Lord.
On the other hand, let us never excuse ourselves by saying that, since we are not under law, we are not bound by such a rule, and so can give much less. Would we give less under grace than the Israelite was required to give under law? Have we so little appreciation of what Christ has done for us that we would give less than this bare minimum? Surely God does not need any of our resources or money, but rather gives us the privilege of taking the better part, for “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:3535I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)).
Future Gain
More than this, we all know that we cannot take anything with us when we leave this world. However, while we are here we can use it to provide “a treasure in the heavens” (Luke 12:3333Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Luke 12:33)) which nothing can take away. Our riches can be used only in this world, and we can use them either for our own pleasure, or to place a deposit in heaven that will abide for all eternity. The same principle is brought out by the Lord Jesus in Luke 16:8-98And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (Luke 16:8‑9), where the Lord commended the unjust steward who had lost his stewardship, because he used his position to make friends with the “mammon of unrighteousness” (money). The Lord was not condoning the steward’s wrongdoing (He calls him unjust), but rather is illustrating the principle of using present advantage for future gain. The story, no doubt, brings before us the use of our money for the Lord in this world so that we will have treasure in heaven when that money is no longer there.
Money Available
Then there is the question of how to have money to give, as well as time and other resources. There are many demands made on us today, and one of Satan’s most effective devices among believers is to take away all of their available time, as well as their money, so that there is nothing left for the Lord. We all know how easily this can happen. I believe that the Word of God gives us an important principle that applies here. When Paul was exhorting the Corinthians to give for the poor saints in Jerusalem, he instructed them as follows: “Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2).
If we do not put something aside for the Lord, we will find that, when a need arises, we will have nothing with which to meet it. Again, no amount or percentage is specified, for it must be from the heart. We must purpose in our heart as to how much to set aside, while not, of course, making the amount we have set aside the limit of our giving. If a greater need arose, we might use other money that had not been specifically set aside, in order to respond to that need. The same principle may be applied to our time and other resources, for it is easy to have all of our time and energy allocated to our own purposes, leaving nothing for the Lord. We must plan ahead, making sure that time and other resources are given for the Lord. Again, this does not limit us, for we can always give more to the Lord if the need presents itself.
Hospitality
One of the areas on which Scripture places a high priority is hospitality. Paul could exhort those in Rome to be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:1313Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. (Romans 12:13)), while Peter could tell his listeners to “use hospitality one to another without grudging” (1 Peter 4:9). It is particularly in connection with hospitality that Peter tells us to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). In these days when husband and wife often both spend considerable time outside the home and when our lives are filled with many responsibilities, it is important to make time for the extension of hospitality to others.
Where to Give
Finally, there is the question of where to give, or to whom. Again, Scripture does not give us any rule about this. It is a privilege to give as an assembly, and no doubt this was in Paul’s thoughts when he exhorted the Corinthians, as we have seen. Some might feel that they would simply put all their money into the collection box on Lord’s Day, leaving it to the assembly to distribute before the Lord. This has a scriptural sanction, for in the early church, men were set over the business of distributing the resources committed to the assembly (Acts 6:16). They were trustworthy men, and the assembly committed to them that responsibility.
Our Time and Energy
However, the work of the Lord in Scripture is always carried on by the energy of the Spirit of God in the individual, and thus the Lord may lay on our own hearts some work to do for Him. This may include using our time, energy and gift, and surely may include the use of our money as well, whether for a work which we undertake or to help another. The Lord said in Luke 19:2323Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? (Luke 19:23), concerning the wicked servant who kept his pound in a napkin, “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?” If the servant did not use the pound himself, by putting it into the bank he would make it available to another who needed it. One application of this is the giving of money to another in order that he or she might be helped to serve the Lord in some capacity.
Thus we see that God does not limit us, for if we are walking with Him, we will have guidance in all these things. If our hearts are full of His love, they will respond in every way, and we will be like the early disciples, who did not say that “ought of the things which he possessed was his own” (Acts 4:3232And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. (Acts 4:32)). Rather, we will look upon all as belonging to Christ, to be used for His glory, for His interests down here, and for the blessing of His people.
W. J. Prost