2001-02-11 - Giving

Passages Related to Spiritual Gifts, Part 6

Do you yearn to share your wealth or your goods with needy people (with the ultimate goal of empowering them to help themselves), worthy ministries etc.? If so, you probably have the gift of giving. There are a couple misconceptions about the gift of giving. You don't have to be wealthy, to be endowed with this gift; God sometimes gives this gift to those who are earning minimum wage or even cannot work at all. But they share what they do have. God uses a "sliding scale" and blesses whatever people are able to share. In addition, it involves more than money; it involves everything "material," from food to automobiles (which can be used to give someone a ride to church, take people for chemo treatments etc.), to video recorders (which could be used for example, by a youth group to view a wholesome movie). All scriptures today are from the NASB.

Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

Mark 12:41-44 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

2 Cor. 8:3-5 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

Acts 4:34-35 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

Jan

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