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Wrong Giving

Tim Jennings

“God so loved the world that He gave His Son…” (John 3:16). “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life…” (Mark 10:45). Gracious, generous, sacrificial giving radiates from the very heart of God’s nature. Perhaps this is why Satan passionately seeks to corrupt the giving impulse within us. And it starts early. When our babies are born one of the first words they learn to say is, “mine.” We learn young that life is not about giving, but it’s about receiving. Yet, when we are “born again” one of the first words we are to forget is, “mine.” We learn from our Lord that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). However, Satan continues to warp our thinking about giving in very subtle ways.

One of our most common temptations is showy giving. When we’ve done something good we want someone to know. Before long the giving is more about the admiration and applause, than a genuine act of service. Jesus knew this would be our struggle so He warned, “do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.” (Matthew 6:1-18). This warning proved to be very appropriate. The first crisis to confront the church is when two of their own members fall dead because they gave to be seen. They wanted the privileges and the prestige of discipleship without the price. After their deaths the text says, “great fear seized the whole church.” (Acts 5:11). One reason for such fear was the disciples could see the potentiality of such pretension in themselves. They were thinking, “You know, that could have been me!”

Do you still have a problem with pretension? When you helped that man with his car, why did you feel compelled to later work that into a conversation? When somebody asked about widow Jones why did you feel the compulsion to make sure they knew you called her, and you visited her? When you see a sister who just got out of the hospital, why do you feel compelled to say, “I’ve been praying for you,” when you haven’t? Could it be that you struggle with showy giving?

Giving should be motivated by a genuine compassion for the person in need. It’s about them, not you. What compelled the great Giver? “Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him” (Mark 1:41). Hide your gift from your ego. Keep your service secret from your pride. Stretch out and touch someone knowing that if your Father is present you have enough of an audience.

Perhaps for Americans our greatest hazard is stingy giving. We are willing to give just so long as it doesn’t affect our standard of living. We are willing to serve as long as it doesn’t infringe on our plans. We are willing to care as long as it doesn’t hurt too much. Our giving rarely scoops out more than the surface of our excess. We may be good at taking up collections, but only sacrifices become offerings.

One of our problems is that we can always hire someone else to do what needs to be done. We do not have to inconvenience ourselves with undesirable tasks at inconvenient times. As a consequence the joy of personal, sacrificial giving is rarely experienced.

The tabernacle was erected by the personal, sacrificial giving of the people (Exodus 35:4-36:7). The temple was erected by the personal, sacrificial giving of king David (1 Chronicles 29). The temple was rebuilt by the personal, sacrificial giving of the nation’s leaders (Ezra 2:68-69). And the temple of God today is built and propelled by believers who are willing to give personally and sacrificially of their time, energy, talents, and possessions for the glory of God (Romans 12:1-2).

Ultimately our giving must be motivated by our gratitude for God’s grace (2 Corinthians 9:15). For this reason, Christians should be the most lavish givers on earth! The way we show the Father our gratitude is by being generous toward others. “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40). That’s enough to turn dutiful, stingily giving into joyful, sacrificial generosity.

The problem with wrong giving is that it leads to weak living, for Scripture and nature agree, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)