The Biblical Pattern of Giving

In this message, we will be looking at the God ordained way of giving as seen in the Bible. The first place in the Bible where giving to God was first mentioned was in Gen 4:3-5, where we were told that Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord. While God rejected Cain’s sacrifice, He accepted that offered by Abel. From this event, we see that God does not accept all sacrifices (gifts) offered to Him. We may then ask under what conditions will God reject or accept our giving.

1. If we look closely at Heb 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” From the above passage, we see that God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice (giving) was as a result of his faith towards Him. Faith is a key requirement in our relationship with God. The Bible tells us in verse 6 of Heb 11 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” We see in this passage, the connection between faith and life of diligence towards God. This was what Abel had that Cain never had. Abel was a man of faith who served God conscientiously. Let’s pause awhile to see who a man of faith is. Faith is one word that has been ripped of its true meaning by many. Faith is not a magic wand needed to claim all claimable. It is not believing God for what will not be glory to Him but rather would massage our egos. To have faith as we see in Heb 11:6 is to trust God completely for our lives. It encompasses our loyalty, faithfulness and total submission to God’s ways and commandments (Heb 11:12-16). We see therefore that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice (giving) because there was a relationship between him (Abel) and God. Abel was first dedicated to God and has offered himself first to God before bringing any offering (Rom 12:1; 1 Sam 15:22b). Paul in 2 Cor 8:5 said that the Macedonia brethren gave their own selves to the Lord and then unto the brethren by the will of God. From the foregoing, we see that God only accepts the gifts of those who are yielded to Him. He accepts no gift from anyone who is not yielded to Him. So before we give our money, properties, cars etc to God, we must first of all give ourselves to Him. He is more interested on the conditions of our hearts towards Him. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise (Ps 51:17). To obey God is better than sacrifice and to hearken unto Him than the fat of rams (1 Sam 15:22).

2. Having yielded ourselves to Him, He now expects us to give based on what we have and not on what we do not have. 2 Cor 8:12 “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” Also look at Mark 12:41-44. Let no pastor hoodwink you into borrowing money to give for the “Lord’s work”. It is not the more you give in size the more you get in returns. The widow in Mark 12:42 gave two mites and yet gave more than all who gave that day. The widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-10) gave all that she had because God had expressly commanded her to provide for Elijah (1 Kings 17:2). Her giving everything therefore was based more on what God had commanded her more than on what Elijah told her. Elijah only corroborated what she had earlier heard from God. You notice again that this woman had a relationship with God and was completely committed to Him. Never go and close your bank accounts, or take out all your savings because one “man of God” told you to do so (only do so if you are really sure that you heard from God). Many had gone borrowing in order to give and have had cause to regret their actions because God never told them to do so. It was either they gave emotionally or as a result of the “man of God’s” mesmerisation.

3. God expects us to give cheerfully and not grudgingly. For the building of the tabernacle (Ex 35:5), the children of Israel gave out of a willing heart. In 2 Cor 9:6-7, Paul admonished the believers to give bountifully as much as they can afford. They are not to give grudgingly or out of compulsion because God loves a cheerful (joyful) giver. Giving to God is a spiritual exercise and should be treated accordingly. Therefore avoid giving out of emotion.
It is important to note that God accepts the gifts of only those who are committed to Him and rewards them accordingly (2 Cor 9:10-11). Have you offered your bodies a living sacrifice to God and giving cheerfully based on how much you have? Do not despair God will surely reward you abundantly. Are you giving to God from those stolen money, bribes, inflated and un-executed contracts, etc? I want to tell you that you are not giving to the God of the Bible. You are only enriching your pastor and his empire. You cannot bribe God with those stolen money, goods or properties. Gal 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

God is more interested in you than in your gifts.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).

God bless you.