This is the Time to Give

Author and Bible commentator Daniel Lioy tells a story about Marquis de Lafayette, a French officer who provided invaluable assistance to George Washington and the struggling American army.

After the war was over, he returned to France and resumed his life as a farmer of many estates. In 1783, the harvest was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a result. Lafayette’s farms were unaffected by the devastating crop failures.

One of his workers offered what seemed to be good advice to Lafayette, “The bad harvest has raised the price of wheat. This is the time to sell.” After thinking about the hungry peasants in the surrounding villages, Lafayette disagreed and said, “No, this is the time to give.”

Lioy then offers this observation.

“God blesses us not just for our own benefit, but also that we can be a blessing to others in need. The tendency to hoard and try to build up more and more is a dangerous one, and the best antidote to greed is to be a generous giver. There is certainly no shortage of people in need today, and while we cannot meet every need, if we do what we can, God will multiply resources so that it is enough.”

The Bible has much to say about being a good and generous giver.

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Rom. 12:13).

“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Eph. 4:28).

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

“Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase” (Prov. 3:9).

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Lk. 6:38).

Many more passages could be cited that speak about the importance of being good givers and sharing our blessings. However, these are sufficient to remind us of five principles as we consider our giving.

#1 Giving honors God.
It recognizes that He is the Giver of all good gifts. In a sense all of our giving, is a way to say, “thank you, Lord.”

#2 Giving is based on our personal prosperity.
We can’t give what we don’t have (2 Cor. 6:12). We give based on our ability (1 Cor. 16:1-2). At different times in our lives our ability may increase or even decrease.

#3 Giving ought to be planned.
Giving should be purposed. Give thought to your giving. A word we use is “budget.” Are you budgeting an amount or percent of your income for giving? When God blesses you with greater prosperity, are you increasing that amount?

#4 Giving should be voluntary.
Resultant, half-hearted, grudging giving, is not really giving as God desires. Giving should be done freely, willingly and without pressure.

#5 Giving should be cheerful.
Are you glad to give? Does the opportunity to share your blessings bring a smile to your face? Does doing good make you feel good?

The Bible condemns the greedy and the hoarder, but pronounces blessings on those who are generous givers.

The story of Lafayette reminds us of a story Jesus told about a man with the opposite attitude–the rich fool (Lk 12:16-21). His barns were full of grain. But when he had a bumper crop with more than he could store, his solution was to build greater barns, instead of sharing his abundance. His sin wasn’t his wealth, rather it was his greed. His selfishness. His hoarding. And his unwillingness to give.

As opportunities are offered for you to give, remember the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Ax. 20:35).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman