Principles to Guide Grace-Motivated Giving

from Pastor Lane

Giving to the Lord is a great blessing in the life of a Christ-follower. Scripture teaches and reminds of the measureless blessing of God to those who are faithful in giving their money to the Lord’s work. I want to share nine principles that Scripture teaches in order to guide giving by grace. Included with each principle are questions to help you discern the genuineness of this motivation. I pray that these principles encourage and guide you as you seek to glorify God in the giving of your money to his kingdom work.

1. Systematic. Giving should be on a regular, systematic basis: weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc. This is also in keeping with the biblical principle of first fruits; our first and best should be collected at the beginning of the week, set aside, and brought before God.

   Discern: Am I faithful to give regularly or do I only give when I feel like it? What systematic structure do I use for giving?

   On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum. —1 Cor. 16.1–2

2. Proportional. Giving should be according to one’s income, as you have been prospered and according to your ability.

   Discern: Do I give according to my income or only according to my feelings toward giving? How do I decide an amount to give?

   Each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income. —1 Cor. 16.2b

   They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. —2 Cor. 8.2–3

   The gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. —2 Cor. 8.12

3. Sacrificially generous. Give not only what you can afford to give, but beyond that, what you believe God would have you to give, trusting him for your provision by your gift.

   Discern: In what ways am I sacrificing in life in order to give generously? Am I willing to make intentional sacrifices in order to give beyond my ability? When have I done/will I do this?

   Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…they gave…even beyond their ability. —2 Cor. 8.2–3

   I have received the gifts you sent…They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. —Phil. 4.17–18

4. Intentional. Giving to God should be an intentional response of worship to him, and not an afterthought or reaction.

   Discern: When/How do I decide what I will give? Through a systematic, financial budgeting plan? Sunday morning when I arrive?

   They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in the service to the saints. —2 Cor. 8.4

   For even when I was in Thessalonica you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. —Phil. 4.16

5. The motivation of love, equality among God’s people and blessing should guide all giving. This expresses a passion for God, a compassion for people, and a complete dependence upon his blessing in life.

   Discern: Do I give out of love for God and the gospel? Do I give because I desire to see God’s glory spread throughout the earth? Do I give because I trust and earnestly desire God’s blessing?

   For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. —2 Cor. 8.9

   Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. —2 Cor. 8.12–14

   Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. —2 Cor. 9.6, 10–11

6. Cheerfully. When one gives, it should be done with a cheerful spirit, full of joy.

   Discern: Do I experience real joy in giving or am I hesitant and regretful? Do I even think about my emotions in giving; whether it is a joy to me or not?

   Each man should give…not reluctantly…God loves a cheerful giver. —2 Cor. 9.7

   God loves (blesses) a cheerful and generous man. —Prov. 22.8

7. Voluntarily. Giving should be done as an act initiated by God’s grace and for his glory. One should not give because of coercion or manipulation or guilt.

   Discern: Do I give because I want to and am eager to find these opportunities? Do I feel like I give because I am coerced in some way?

   Each man should give what he has decided in his own heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. —2 Cor. 9.7

8. Excel in giving. As our relationship with Christ grows, so should our giving to him. As our income grows, our giving should grow as well. One should seek to excel in the amount as well as the proportion given.

   Discern: Have I excelled in my giving through the years? How? Has my giving grown in amount, frequency, maturity, etc?

   Just as you excel in everything…see that you also excel in the grace of giving. —2 Cor. 8.7

9. Promise of grace’s all-sufficiency. God sustains us through his grace. The more one grows in his grace, the more one comes to trust it for all things.

   Discern: Where do I not trust God’s all sufficient grace in my life? How am I not resting in it daily? Where does money have a hold on my heart and life as an idol of worship that I must denounce?

   And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. —2 Cor. 9.8

   And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. —Phil. 4.19

In all, our motivation for giving is love for Jesus. We cannot make him love us more or less through our giving, but we come to love him more as we practice giving more to him. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give” can be difficult. This is not an open excusal for people to just give whatever they want, but rather a principle teaching how to give by grace. Too many Christians take no time with their ‘hearts full of Christ’ to decide what to give, but only rather what their pocket book says is allowable to give, without too much effect. What we fail to realize is that when we give in this way, we have shown ourselves to have given from our heart for Christ, or rather the lack thereof. Without utilizing these principles to guide our giving, it is unlikely that we will honor God with our wealth and give by grace.