Giving, February 18, 2024

By Rev. Michael Mwangi

Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG

Giving is an act of bestowing, laying as a gift, conferring or imparting something to someone.

John 3:16 (New International Version)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

In John 3:16 the bible describes GOD as a giver all embodiment of giving.

He gives us life 

Genesis 2:7 (New International Version)

7 Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

He provides for us 

Genesis 22:7-8 (New International Version)

7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

He gives us eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ 

John 11:25-27 (New International Version)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 (New International Version)

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Apostle Paul says , "Follow me as I follow Christ. " He also urges the Corinthians to excel in the grace of giving as the church of Macedonia gave graciously though they were poor. 

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (New International Version)

1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

You cannot excel in grace of giving unless you first give yourself completely to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 8:5 (as per above).

Every giving or sacrifice that doesn't cost you, doesn't have an impact on your entire life

2 Samuel 24:24 (New International Version)

24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

David says I will not offer to the Lord sacrifice that doesn't cost him.

1 Chronicles 21:24 (New International Version)

24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

As Christians, we should develop a Christ-like character i.e. love and giving. He first loved and then gave (John 3:16) but today's Christians do vice versa. They give but don't love. But we should come to this knowledge of understanding.

2 Corinthians 8:9 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor so that by His poverty might become rich.

This means He left the comforts and glory of Heaven to live for us, to die for us and rise from the dead in victory over sin and grave.

Church it's through faith in Him we can give generously but not our salaries.

It's through His Son we can excel in the grace of giving.

Let's love Him first then the grace of giving will excel in us automatically.