Giving From Out of Our Abundance

Are you ready to give more of yourself? Giving more time, talents, gifts, knowledge, wisdom, kindness, goodness, mercy, joy, patience and love is the only way to go if you truly desire to be like Jesus Christ. His example is set before us to glean from, every time we choose to open up our Bibles to feast our eyes on the pages containing His life story.

What do you give? For some of us money is easy to give, while for others they hang on tightly to it, reluctant to part with any in case of need in an emergency situation, or wanting to grow their savings for “a rainy day.” It is good to save for these times when things are lean or when we are in need (Proverbs 10:5). It is also good to share our blessings with brethren and the less fortunate including the poor (Hebrews 13:16). Is there any such thing as giving too much or too little? How much should we give? Should we have balance in giving? These questions have interesting answers and definitely involve wisdom from above. Let’s look at an example in the Bible.

All That She Had

There’s a woman mentioned in the book of Mark whose name we don’t know, but whose actions we do. In Mark 12:42-43, it’s recorded that she gave all the money she had, dutifully, willingly, faithfully to God. It wasn’t much at all, just two copper coins. What could one buy with so little? There are people now, believe it or not, saying that this account had nothing to do with giving and it was really all about the Pharisees “ripping off” the widows! They did take advantage of these women, but that is not the primary or main focus. We need to recognize that despite her poverty she gave all she had even though it was minuscule . . . but it was certainly not minuscule to God and He commended her for it. 

Since the account mentions that this woman was a widow, we know she had no husband to help her, and her poverty suggests she may also have had no children to help provide for her. This had a bearing on her selfless attitude in giving all the money she had. Hers was a complete sacrifice. Did she need to give it all away? Perhaps she considered herself blessed with everything she had and family provided for her physical needs? But what if she gave all she had, not knowing where her next meal came from? She may have been able to glean from the corners of the field each day to sustain herself. Much we do not know, but the one thing God wanted us to know is that she gave it all in faith. She humbly served God and not mammon (money) as the scriptures refer to in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13.

Now enter the rich where comparison is made to those who gave great amounts, so much more than she did. However, it was all relative. This means, by comparison, if we give from our abundance a small amount . . . is this really giving? We would not even miss it. There would be no hardship involved. Conversely, we are left to ponder whether the poor widow could afford any food the next day. What would she do? How would she survive? The widow gave everything she had . . . this is truly giving and it was a beautiful act of faith.

In contrast, the rich put in out of their abundance. They could have given more, but their choice was to give enough to make a loud indication that it was many coins. They wanted to attract the attention of others nearby hearing their money clink and clang rather impressively into the treasury. Jesus made special note of how the people gave and made a comparison between the wealthy and the poor for our instruction.

Motives Behind Giving

Some would say it is ludicrous to give everything you have, for how would you then live? It can be a hard thing to discern how much we should give. After all, Scripture shows that God desires obedience over sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Some find obedience much harder to sustain than regular tithing or free will offerings. We can focus on being obedient by keeping the Ten Commandments, living daily lives that stay close to God and watching our personal state so that we do not enter into sin; and if we do, we immediately pray with repentance.

We could give everything we have to God, but if we are not living righteously this would be futile and meaningless, much like giving everything to the poor without love profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3). What would be best is to focus on obedience and pleasing God by showing love to others and filling needs when we see them. Yesterday it may have been trimming and filing the broken fingernails on an elderly man in an assisted living center that you may visit; today it may be giving your cardigan to a young person who is shivering with cold because she does not have one; tomorrow it may be visiting someone who is unable to leave their home to give them your time, your conversation, your presence and company which could be the highlight of their lonely day. Perhaps you have even brought a healthy, hot, home-cooked meal for her to enjoy as she is no longer able to cook like she used to.

More than Money

Giving takes many forms. Giving all of ourselves involves more than merely money. If we are diligently giving tithes and offerings, that is all God asks of our finances. We can give more if we can and have the means to do so. But we can also give an offering of our time, our resources, our talents and gifts, and do so from a willing heart. If we see a need and have the capacity to do so, we should fill it.

God’s Spirit will help lead you to do God’s will in areas of giving. Giving brings joy to the recipient, and as it turns out, God will bless you, too, because you have been willing, instead of turning “a blind eye” or hardening your heart (Proverbs 11:25). We are told in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves a cheerful giver. It is no good giving grudgingly as this is not truly giving (Deuteronomy 15:10). We need to examine our motives closely. We must give expecting nothing in return.

The example of the poor widow is a marvelous one, as who among us has truly given all the money they have at any time? We have been given from God such an abundance of blessings in talents, gifts and abilities along with financial benefits to be shared with those who have less. Everything we have is because of our Creator.

Our time is now to give to others in so many ways it would be impossible to remember and document all of them. Our Father is watching us just like Christ Jesus watched the poor widow in the temple 2,000 years ago to discern how we give, more so than the size of the gift (2 Corinthians 8:12). It truly is the motivation that counts. What is within your heart and how will you give today? God is watching to see how you are loving others in preparation for His Kingdom when further needs will be filled.