God Encourages Us
God does not expect us to give
cheerful giver” (see 2 Corinthians
to Give
9:7).
Jesus said, “Give, and it will be what we do not have. A steward is The parable of the Good Samari-
given to you. A good measure, pressed tan is a parable demonstrating the
down, shaken together and running
one who holds in trust the property
proper attitude toward giving. The
over will be poured into your lap. For
of another; a manager of another’s
first attitude is that of the thieves:
with the measure you use, it will be What’s yours is mine, and I’m going
measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
resources. The question we need to
to take it (Luke 10:30). The second
Note there are three parts to this attitude is that manifested by the
verse. First, there is a command. Jesus ask ourselves is “What do I hold in Levite and the priest who saw the
said, “Give.” God has the right to issue need of the man robbed and beaten
that command because it is all His
trust for God?” or “What can I give
and passed by on the other side:
anyway. So He issues the command.
to God?” We might not have much
What’s mine is mine, and I’m going
But with the command, second, to keep it (vv. 31-32).
there is a promise. God says when we
of this world’s goods, but God has
In order for them to help this
give, He’ll give back to us. man, they’d have to give up some-
Third, there’s a principle of mea-
entrusted us with time, talents,
thing important to them . . . their
sure: “With the measure you use, it time, their resources, their personal
will be measured to you.” Jesus is basi-
and energy to do His work.
comfort. They were trained to do
cally saying that with the same scoop
we use, God will scoop it back. So if we
Good stewardship involves more
“religious things,” to do ministry.
But when the opportunity to do
use a little scoop, we needn’t expect to
than just giving money—it also
“real ministry” presented itself, they
get a lot back. But if we use a big scoop, turned their heads away.
God has promised to give a large mea-
includes giving of ourselves.
The third attitude is the one
sure in return. exhibited by the Good Samaritan:
Paul said it this way: “What you What’s mine is yours, and I’ll share
sow is what you reap. If you sow spar- it with you (vv. 33-37).
ingly you reap sparingly. If you sow bountifully you reap bounti- This Samaritan was not “trained in ministry.” The Samaritan
fully” (see 2 Corinthians 9:16). was probably not any wealthier than the Levite or the priest. He
probably had other things to do in his life, and yet he stopped
God Calls on Us to Give by Faith
while the others walked on by. His attitude helped him overcome
The amount of our giving to God should be determined more any prejudice, ignore the inconvenience, and give up his posses-
by our faith than by reason. When we read through Scripture, we sions to take care of the man.
find that most of the people who are singled out for giving great
gifts to God would have never given the gifts if they had made
God Expects Us to Give According
their decision based on reason alone. Consider the widow Jesus
to What We Have
observed in the Temple. Would she have given her last two mites God does not expect us to give what we do not have. A stew-
if she had acted strictly from reason? ard is one who holds in trust the property of another; a manager
Would the little boy have given his lunch to Jesus, if he had of another’s resources. The question we need to ask ourselves is
been acting on reason? He could have said, “If I give this lunch “What do I hold in trust for God?” or “What can I give to God?”
away, there won’t be anything for me to eat.” But since he acted We might not have much of this world’s goods, but God has
by faith rather than reason, he gave it; and the lunch fed not only entrusted us with time, talents, and energy to do His work. Good
him, but everyone else too—5,000 men besides women and chil- stewardship involves more than just giving money—it also
dren—until they were satisfied. includes giving of ourselves.
Giving by faith is important for two reasons: First, God knows Proverbs 3:5-10 perhaps describes best what it means to trust
the need better than we do. Second, He knows how much of the the unchanging God in these changing times: “Trust in the Lord
need He wants to meet through us. with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It
Paul wrote, “Don’t give begrudgingly. Don’t give with a scowl shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour
on your face. Don’t give saying, ‘Well, I didn’t really want to, but the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine
I will anyway.’” But, he continues, “Give with a smile on your lips. increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses
Give with joy in your heart. Give cheerfully because God loves a shall burst out with new wine.”
EVANGEL • MAR 2009 7
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